The Wright family is enjoying their last day of vacation.
Tomorrow, they will join thousands of flights in the
National Airspace System or NAS,
a network of air-traffic facilities
and airports under nearly 30 million
square miles of sky.
There's a special group of people
that manage that network and the overall
flow of air traffic nationwide,
bringing the Wrights and millions of other people
home safely each day, and that group works here, at
the FAA's Air Traffic Control System Command Center.
While the Wrights sleep, teams of experts at the
Command Center are getting ready for a new day.
Soon, traffic volume is growing on the East Coast
and the Command Center is buzzing.
All right. Hello, everybody, this is the Command Center
with the advanced plan next day webinar.
We're gonna get started with the weather.
From experience, the FAA knows the best way
to manage air traffic is to be prepared.
The Command Center relies on tools,
such as daily briefings by the National Weather Service,
historical data, and conference calls with airlines
and air traffic facilities to create a game plan
for the day, the PERTI plan.
We've got something building across here
P.M. thunderstorms? So we'll factor all of that in.
The plan gives everyone a starting point,
but coordinating air traffic and minimizing delays is also
about managing unpredictability,
so twice per day, every day, Command Center experts
get together to discuss potential challenges.
The Wrights have no idea how much effort
is being made for their safety.
They leave the hotel to catch their flight.
Before boarding, Mom checks on a prescription she
ordered, a critical overnight refill for Dad
is currently on a cargo flight which is also under the
care of the Command Center.
The Wrights head to the gate departing right on time.
Good morning, this is your captain speaking.
Welcome to flight 905.
We're looking at some rain and possible thunderstorms,
but our approach looks clear.
So sit back. relax, and enjoy your flight.
Balancing the national flow of air traffic is crucial
so each airport can safely handle the volume.
The biggest challenge to that, weather.
[Phones ringing-radio chatter]
Atlanta TRACON is ATC Zero due to a power trigger.
A tornado has hit the area and we've experienced
commercial power failure.
Today, a tornado knocked out power to a radar facility
in Atlanta, which could greatly delay the Wright's flight,
but the FAA is ready with redundant systems.
As soon as the power goes out air traffic is transferred
to controllers at another facility.
Next, the Command Center works quickly to manage
the air traffic including the Wright's flight
heading to Atlanta.
This is a Command Center Planner.
we have an event at Atlanta TRACON.
Atlanta TRACON is ATC Zero.
Working closely with Air Traffic Services,
the Command Center initiates a ground stop,
temporarily halting departures to Atlanta,
to stem the flow of traffic.
For the Wrights, already in the air,
other strategies are necessary,
such as holding patterns, reroutes,
and temporarily slowing inbound traffic.
This is your captain again.
Due to equipment problems at an Atlanta radar facility,
Our arrival at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson
may be a few minutes later than scheduled.
We'll keep you posted.
As the FAA's Technical Operations team restores power,
the Command Center removes the flight restrictions.
Hey Dan, Brandon, just got the call, A80 is transitioning
back to normal operations. They get one generator up.
The Wrights land safely.
Meanwhile, the cargo flight with Dad's medicine
is still on the way.
Each day, the Command Center manages air traffic for
thousands of cargo flights, unexpected challenges,
as well as planned events impact those flights too.
Today, the President is also flying.
To keep Air Force One safe, the Command Center
issues temporary flight restrictions, banning all other
aircraft from the President's flight path.
A notice to all pilots is sent nationwide to let everyone
know about the restrictions.
The Space Ops team, after months of coordination with
NASA, launch crews, airports, and air traffic control
is making final preparations
for a rocket launch this afternoon.
The Cape is saying right now their weather
probability is about 80 percent go.
As launch time nears,
specialists put the plan into action.
Even while the rocket cruises through the air,
as it clears the defined hazard areas,
the restrictions are released, flight routes are reopened,
and any delays are minimized.
The first hazard area in the THA is released
from the nominal launch.
And so Dad's medicine arrives without delay.
A tornado, Air Force One, a rocket launch,
--it was just a regular day for the Command Center.
And every time you fly, the Command Center
will work just as hard to make sure your flight is safe
and on time.
No matter what the obstacles are,
no matter what is going on in the NAS,
the Command Center will do all it can
to protect your flight, your time, and you.
Because getting passengers and packages to their
destinations safely and efficiently is what the Command
Center does every day.
And that's how the Command Center keeps our nation's
airspace system the safest and most efficient
in the world.