To be a radar controller, how can I get to know when I should command aircraft to decent in order to approach their destination airport as expected?
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As far as I know, the pilots are the ones who can request descent via a STAR when needed from the Center ATC. I always start my descent on my own and never had a problem.
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Hi there! MxP is correct. If you’re on center then you should request descent around 1 minute before your TOD. If there is no center active simply tune into approach whenever you’re under FL180 and request your approach from there. Hope this helps!
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i mean being an ATC
If I understand your question the right way: it’s bit difficult to put it into one answer. There a some factors to take into account: height, speed and terrain and if a pilot has filed a fpl or not. The right settings heavily depend on these parameters and it also depends on your own experience. ATC uses IFATC.org charts to create a good plan. You won’t crash a plane into terrain. Fly the approaches on your own. note down some landmarks (e.g. other aiports, VORs or fixes). This should help you a lot.
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It’s good to read this. Actually, you don’t need to read this if you’re going to control TS, but if you want TS to provide good service to pilots, read it. But for the most part, the TS pilot will very likely ignore your instructions…
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Only if he pilots controlling the Aircraft can Request decent into any active airport. 1. Base everything in timing in IF if there is not active ATC ,Center, Approuch, or Center base most decending, alignment with the runway us timing. 2. If using VNAV you have a restricted altitude to decend at each waypoint prior to your Arrival - destination. 3. Center can also tell you when to decend if your in an airspace with other pilots going to the same airport for less traffic prior to arrival in the [Certain Airport].
Happy Flying @FlightG
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If an aircraft has a filed STAR, then there is an option for radar controllers to send a command to “descend via xxxx STAR.” It does not command the aircraft to descend immediately; it’s only used by center to give early authorization for the aircraft to descend once they reach their TOD. It can be a helpful tool to use so that you are not getting bombarded with descent requests on a busy frequency. If a controller requires an aircraft to change their altitude, heading, or speed immediately, then a standard altitude/heading/speed change command shall be used.
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Well, it depends on what position your a controlling. If you are a center, aircraft should request to descend through a STAR. Then at FL 180 you hand off the approach controller, they would set up the aircraft on an approach(ILS, Visual, GPS) and deal with any pattern work if necessary. Then you would clear them for approach, at 5000 AAL then it is the tower’s job to clear them for a landing.
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Not in every case, me personally I look at airspace depictions and see the boundaries and lateral confines of my airspace. It varies at every airport for instance at HNL the bravo airspace is at about 10k feet so I get my center controller to handoff around that alt and so on for every airport.
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Not always. Some STARs do not provide crossing restrictions and require ATC to deliver them. And better yet some airports don’t have charted STARs. In this case, you need to figure out the MEA (minimum enroute altitude) and figure out a place to descend them above said altitude. This can be found on a SID/STAR or on an enroute chart.
In the case you are working approach, you will most likely be looking at MVAs (minimum vectoring altitudes) versus an MEA as previously discussed. As long as you keep them over the MVA, you will be assuring safe obstacle clearance for that aircraft.
If you have the option to give a descend via STAR clearance, you may apply the below phraseology:
Descend via the (STAR Name) Arrival
With this, make sure to give a timely handoff to the approach controller to avoid conflict.
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Also, as far as handoffs are concerned, it is important to give an early handoff.
So, when should you hand an aircraft off to the next controller? As soon as you no longer need to talk to the aircraft. It really is as simple as that. If there is nothing more you anticipate needing to say to a pilot, hand them off to the next controller or approve a frequency change if there’s not a “next” controller. If the following questions have an answer of no, you it is safe to give a handoff:
- Is the aircraft clear of conflict? Is there going to be a loss of separation?
Ultimately, there is no reason to hold onto an aircraft until they are right at the end of your airspace or jurisdiction. You do not increase your level of interaction with the traffic, and you do not increase safety or efficiency. All you risk doing is causing undue delays or worse, a loss of separation. Keep in mind, this is a lesson that applies at every controller position, from Ground to Center, and most controllers would benefit from being more proactive with their handoffs.
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