Air Traffic Control

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ATCSCC Advisories

National Flight Data Center (NFDC)

JO 7210.3W - Facility Operation and Administration Document Information

Air Traffic Management Glossary of Terms

ZAB - Albuquerque Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC)

ZAU - Chicago Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC)

ZBW - Boston Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC)

ZDC - Washington Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC)

ZFW - Dallas-Ft Worth Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC)

ZHU - Houston Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC)

ZID - Indianapolis Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC)

ZJX - Jacksonville Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC)

ZKC - Kansas City Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC)

ZLA - Los Angeles Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC)

ZLC - Salt Lake City Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC)

ZMA - Miami Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC)

ZME - Memphis Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC)

ZMP - Minneapolis Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC)

ZNY - New York Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC)

ZOA - Oakland Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC)

ZOB - Cleveland Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC)

ZSE - Seattle Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC)

ZTL - Atlanta Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC)

GDP - Ground Delay Program.

Ground Delay Programs are implemented to control air traffic volume to airports where the projected traffic demand is expected to exceed the airport´s acceptance rate for a lengthy period of time. Lengthy periods of demand exceeding acceptance rate are normally a result of the airport´s acceptance rate being reduced for some reason. The most common reason for a reduction in acceptance rate is adverse weather such as low ceilings and visibility.

How it works:

Flights that are destined to the affected airport are issued Expect Departure Clearance Times (EDCT) at their point of departure. Flights that have been issued EDCTs are not permitted to depart until their Expect Departure Clearance Time. These ECDTs are calculated in such a way as to meter the rate that traffic arrives at the affected airport; ensuring that demand is equal to acceptance rate. The length of delays that result from the implementation of a Ground Delay Program is a factor of two things; how much greater than the acceptance rate the original demand was, and for what length of time the original demand was expected to exceed the acceptance rate.

EDCT - Expect Departure Clearance Time. The time issued to a flight to indicate when it can expect to receive departure clearance. EDCTs are issued as part of Traffic Management Programs, such as a Ground Delay Program (GDP).

GS - Ground Stop.

Ground Stops are implemented for a number of reasons. The most common reasons are:

To control air traffic volume to airports when the projected traffic demand is expected to exceed the airport´s acceptance rate for a short period of time.
To temporarily stop traffic allowing for the implementation of a longer-term solution, such as a Ground Delay Program.
The affected airport´s acceptance rate has been reduced to zero.

How it works:

Flights that are destined to the affected airport are held at their departure point for the duration of the Ground Stop.