How Airplane Collisions Are Avoided at the World’s Busiest Airport | WSJ Booked

[@rovermiles1]

Everytime I see a depiction of ATC and ground control - my mind gets blown. The choreography is amazing and it looks like an insanely stressful job. I'm amazed that this is how we control out air travel.

[@peterk1991canada]

I see it as a dance - the Waltz - always moving in different directions making sure you don't bump into anyone. People don't realize what goes on behind the scenes to land, depart and taxi planes across the runways and I wish everyone saw documentaries of how much goes on behind the scenes before complaining.

[@-maxipoo-]

I honestly don't think it's as complicated as people may think

[@krishp1104]

I once got a private tour of the IAD airport near Washington DC and going into the ATC tower was definitely one of the highlights

[@pratyakshyt]

How do you get private tour

I can’t believe that they slide those bars across the desk by hand.

[@florian6948]

At Eurocontrol in the Netherlands as well as centers in Germany, the strips have been mostly replaced. Whereas in towers, physical strips are still in use in many places. They are an old systems, but an old system that has been working and is working well.

[@condor7964]

Yeah, that whole process essentially falls under the category of don't fix what isn't broken. They really only serve as a reference to determine and keep track of what order flights depart in, as the video mentioned, but through all the decades of commercial aviation, it's a system that controllers have always been able to count on.

[@sngs9565]

👌

[@a21npilot91]

@@florian6948, and you get used to them already during training stage.

[@JeanClaudeCOCO]

@@condor7964like you said it’s a human holding that strip, feeling it and you can count on it and keep track of it instead of an electronic alert which could be forgotten due to fatigue or illness. If you’re sick or not feeling well, sloughing and swinging that strip will keep you alert and awake, otherwise you should be headed home.

[@somaghosh2960]

Very much complicated but very nice. Thank you WSJ.

[@cyndymalouf1638]

Some of the controllers talk so fast I don't know how pilots understand them..

[@spades9048]

Phraseology is standard for a reason. You get used to it. You also talk differently to student pilots and “weekend warrior” - as in pilots who only fly occasionally in small airplanes. Nothing wrong with that but you’ll say things slower to them so you don’t have to repeat yourself. Delta going into ATL you’ll say “Cleared direct CHPPR (Pronounced Chipper) CHPPR1 arrival” and not think twice. They’ll read it back instantly. A Korean Air coming in won’t be as familiar so you’ll say “Cleared direct CHPPR, Charlie Hotel Papa Papa Romeo, CHPPR1” because you know Korean Air isn’t familiar with Atlanta fixes like Delta is.

[@fastfiddler1625]

I don't know how we do it either. Lol But as mentioned, standard phraseology is what makes it possible. "Turn left, heading 030, maintain 3000 until established, cleared ILS 36L" can be said incredibly fast. But you hear that literally thousands of times, so all you're really listening for that the key points: heading, altitude, cleared because those are the only things that change.

[@airbornefoxx]

I am training to become a pilot and the worst part about communication is how bad the audio quality is. I can barely understand what people are saying sometimes. I am not sure if it is due to poor equipment or lack of experience identifying the phrasing but it can be tough to hear people.

[@regs4042]

Seriously invest in a noise cancelling headset...bose or lightspeed and have your radios checked out. Audio quality is usually very good. Been flying for 25 yrs

[@emanueldobos8452]

It definitely comes with experience and having good soundproof equipment. Just being prepared and knowing what to expect makes it almost impossible not to understand what is said

[@avestuart]

Communication will become easier as you gain experience with the system. Most new pilots struggle with the communication aspect of flying.

[@Bruan2]

Like the first reply says good ANC makes a world of difference. Esp in a single engine piston

[@fastfiddler1625]

It was night and day when I got my first ANR headset. In GA, I really think bose is the way to go. Expensive, but if you are dropping thousands on training, just lop it in there. You need to protect your hearing, and being able to hear properly is essential for your safety.

[@singhcertain]

this is such an informative video..cheers

[@Flyerman777]

Wish you went to an airport like SFO or Boston.. where the runaways crossover and communication is that much more important rather than parallel runways like ATL or LAX or instance

[@wp40]

2:21 Wow where did you find this monstrosity?

[@kisaragi-hiu]

Was expecting the TCAS to get a mention. It's certainly saved many lives.

[@sweetnaomi56]

There's also a shortage of Air Traffic Controllers, lol

[@peterk1991canada]

Did I miss something - I thought they said Southwest abort and from the animation it looks like it still took off?

[@truebluereef419]

I have a headache just watching this. Hats off.

[@hsuantingchen490]

such interesting video!!

[@lawrence02]

Giannis controlling air traffic in Atlanta? What can’t this man do ?

[@IlIlIlIlIlIlIlIl-v9h]

We’re just coming out of a pandemic where everything shut down. Including pilot/controller proficiency and training. As the traffic volume comes back up to pre pandemic levels we’re going to have these hiccups from a work force who lost some of their edge during the pandemic and all of a sudden have to perform to 100% levels again. Just give them some time. Don’t understaff them. Make sure they get the training they need and all will be ok. This ain’t brain science!

[@dantradingalerts1292]

They still dont have digital strips there or are they using both digital and legacy?

[@liveandletflyatc]

Cool video! Interesting to see that an airport as busy as Hartsfield-Jackson is using paper strips in the tower!

[@paradx37]

Im curious to hear about how things work with foreign airlines at ATL. Are those pilots required to study the FAA english manuals? Are american pilots required to study french landing procedures at CDG? Are things universal around the world?

[@timothybogle1461]

English is the language of the air. Most if not all of these procedures are basically universal across the globe. ATC Technology may be different but the commands are the same. International crews flying into ATL or any North American airport should have a minimum fluency in English.

[@paradx37]

@@timothybogle1461 Does that mean a pilot flying from Marseille to Paris would go through landing procedures in english? And, if FAA changes their procedures then shanghai airport must follow those procedures in shanghai? That seems odd ....

[@timothybogle1461]

@@paradx37 there is an ICAO for a reason to ensure that most procedures have universal consistency across the globe. An Air Traffic controller can't simply be put on another tower without training. However unless a particular airport has a special certification to fly into a pilot flying into CDG should manage to fly into JFK. Daily there are dozens of diversions to airports crews are unfamiliar with and planes land safely all the time.

[@sburrows142]

@@paradx37 no, they would talk in French. If anyone is going to change anything it will be ICAO, FAA only has power in the USA.

[@kaelon9170]

@@paradx37 The ATC procedures are not determined by the FAA, but by ICAO, the International Civil Aviation Organisation, which pretty much every country in the world with an airport is a part of. If ICAO changes some procedures, then all aviation in the world follows suit to ensure procedures are standardised as much as possible. The FAA has some additional safety regulations but all the base procedures come from ICAO. English is also the communication language set by ICAO so all pilots and ATC must speak a good level of English. This avoids language issues for crews flying abroad. One more note, is that besides the requirement for all ATC and air crews to be able to speak English, ATC communication in a different language is actually allowed as long as both the ATC controller and the flight crew speak that language. So an Air France flight coming in to land in Paris may actually speak French to the Parisian ATC controllers. But ATC has to be able to speak English as well for any air crew not able to speak French, and the Air France crew must communicate in English with ATC if they happen to come across a controller that's working Paris but not able to speak French or that's choosing to speak English instead for any reason.

[@PhyzinicStudios]

After the first 3 months, there was only one more near-miss incident the rest of the year. Either the first three months were a statistical anomaly, or everyone involved took these incidents seriously and took action to prevent any further incidents.

[@josephpatterson1580]

The glaring elephant in the room is that the FAA admitted they’re short about 3,000 controllers. The FAA has systematically underhired over the past several decades to save costs and now the system is overstretched and running on 90’s era technology. It’s only a matter of time before something catastrophic happens but until then politicians in Washington will continue to not care and the FAA will remain a hopelessly bureaucratic, inept organization and will attempt to shift the blame to the airlines.

[@thinktransnational]

So you’re saying austerity politics in to blame and the Washington should give the FAA more money so that it can be bette at hiring?

[@kwcnasa]

Good video

[@sngs9565]

CEO commended SouthWest crew....on Feb 4th incident???

[@JAIHINDSAHABpsf]

salute to you mam what an anchor

[@casper7594]

Why does everything has to be about America? 0:14

[@MeITellYou]

The other issue is the airports. Stop using the same runway for take off and landing for the major ones

[@antiquehealbot6543]

If you do that, it will reduce capacity more than half.

[@comicus01]

@@antiquehealbot6543 ??? No, not really. At Austin, they both may have requested that same runway. And it is not a hub airport, so it shouldn't have been an issue. (if you want a good in depth look by an airline pilot, go look up the 74 Gear channel). Heathrow will use one runway for take offs only, and one for landings only. And they usually switch up which runway handles which once a week. LAX used to have landings and take offs from the same runways until one plane landed on top of another 30+ years ago. Now the inner runways are dedicated for takeoffs, and the outer ones are dedicated for landings. As MelTellYou suggested, some airports already practice exactly that.

[@operationgoldilocks2481]

@@comicus01 Please provide link to aforementioned 74 Gear episode covering implementation of this concept and any other material FAA should review.

[@comicus01]

@@operationgoldilocks2481 He covers the incident, he doesn't address runway usage patterns. But here's his video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3ibY5mhoqiEmMU The wikipedia article on the LAX crash mentions the change in runway use as one of the changes implemented afterwards. If you were to ever sit in a terminal there waiting for a flight, it would be obvious this is how the runways are used. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_runway_disaster#Aftermath

[@condor7964]

Majority of major airports in the U.S operate heavily on this concept (ORD, DFW, ATL, LAX, etc). The few airports that don't are simply unable to due to limitations with airport layout (SFO, JFK, etc) but even then, they only stray from it concept when they absolutely have to.

[@taylorlibby7642]

All those systems seem really out of date.

[@cedric-assehliemessing3053]

Please propose something better

[@taylorlibby7642]

@@cedric-assehliemessing3053🙄 Sure. How about a general modernizing of all those antiquated systems for start.

[@eacoincmubiru5894]

@@taylorlibby7642 and if the system crashes, we are screwed.

[@Neon2110]

A lot of manual repetitive labor here. If this was privatized it would be fully automated

[@bradzeigler]

Not all facilitates still use flight progress strips. Nevertheless, they are used concurrently with electronic systems and serve as both a quick notepad and as a failsafe if something happens to the computer. Throughout ATC, you’ll see lots of “belts and suspenders” examples.

[@lisalu910]

Except that Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson is the busiest airport in the world. Headline is incorrect.

[@nyrubin]

I wanted to be a controller but I’m too old cut off age is 31 😢

[@potatomatop9326]

Why deal with all this stress when you can just turn into a Superman and fly?

[@kevinemilcar887]

Farmingdale Republic control tower piper warrior plane go around

[@cyberducc]

Jane's Dad 💀

[@First1ToComment]

Iykyk 😎

[@munchma]

Yes. That was so realistic. Thank you for sharing.

[@francisssali2550]

Did she say 2100 flights a day🤔. Is that an airport anymore!!!

[@cr8xtremeCaRnAgE]

Increase job at atc

[@edenassos]

Just goes to show that humans don't even come close to computers when it comes to multitasking. People talk about robots stealing jobs but don't use the thing between their ears and realize that computers make everything safer and more efficient. When AI takes over ATC processes, it will be a game-changer.

[@thinktransnational]

This is not even close to being true. Computers can and do make mistakes all of the time and one thing computers can’t do is reason the way humans can. If AI is ever introduced in a broad way to ATC jobs you aren’t going to see the end of accident you are going to see humans working along side AI to prevent the AI from making accidents.

[@RaulEdu33]

Skynet has entered the chat.... 😅😂

[@gordonkling5886]

Wow! I never knew how outdated the ATC system was… printed clearances and sliding it across the table 😮

[@United_Wings]

Wow

[@josemanuelln]

it’s not fair that americans say mexico space air is unsafe when they have the same problem at runaways

[@fredm.9474]

ATC will be blame ok

[@auro1986]

if they could take off and land vertically then there would be shortage of runways

[@txpatriotgirl]

Because of difficulty hiring, the FAA has lowered training requirements hours which may be one cause of these near misses according to a pilot in the industry.

[@Miinecraftserver]

Early squad 😅 .

[@yuentsang6903]

Why are these people still using paper to track these plane? You can make mistake with poor handwriting.

[@andrewlorenzo6611]

If you can't read your OWN handwriting, you got bigger problems.

[@dbclass4075]

A fallback in case of system failures, say a blackout. Although, some European airports do use electronic flight strips. American or European, major airports always have radar to track their position.

[@ropro9817]

Wow, those printed and hand written physical flight strips... What century is this again? 🤔

[@marcellkovacs5452]

It kinda makes sense. Imagine if the system just crashes completely, they still know what flights they were handling by looking at the paper strips.

[@pectenmaximus231]

Actually that is a very safe system. In systems where there can be catastrophic consequences, physical and analog components are often found.

[@cecontroller]

I've used both digital and paper. Sometimes it's just easier to have something tactile that you can pick up or move than trying to drag things across a screen

[@ketselatekle2939]

On the power On El Shaddai Elohim Adoni Ahcad Shama Israel El Roi On the power On St Gabriel On the power On St Michael On the power On Virgin Mary All the ufo and bad gad witchcraft will be in the middle in the volcano forever and ever Amen

[@CHMichael]

It's ridiculous that we are still using voice communication.

[@pectenmaximus231]

As opposed to… telepathy?

[@wp40]

ATL has PDC and CPDLC. What more do you want?

[@leardvr]

​​@@wp40 how about CPDLC throughout the US domestic airspace. You know it's BS we can cross Canada, Atlantic, Pacific, even Brazil and most of Europe and Asia using it, but not here

[@dbclass4075]

Voice have the advantage of being immediate, which is useful in emergencies. Although, other comments mentioned the use of text communication these days.

[@danilocastillo5714]

@@leardvr LOL, you plan on sequencing 43 airplanes in one hour to one runway via text?? I seen a lot of comments talking about inefficient but I think voice would be the best for something like that, correct me if I'm wrong...

[@Bushpilot.]

임한나 만세

[@catholicfemininity2126]

They better be hiring based on skill and not 'dviersity' or 'looks' or 'connections' you hire based on how competent they are, or you'll regret it if something goes wrong.

[@gmart225]

Their 'system' looks woefully inefficient lol

[@GlennGoryl]

"...maintain continued vigilance." EXACTLY what I would expect from our "fearless leaders" (which is why they fly private).

[@thinktransnational]

Private flights still fly into public international airports all the time. They would still be a concern for them.

[@FollowersofChristJesusourLord]

Jesus loves us God bless everyone!!!!!!

[@jarrodyuki7081]

onyl faicism can save calfiornai after covid.

[@constitutionprotector3130]

JFK is not the World’s busiest airport. Atlanta is.

[@bikeny]

Please do not use any music during narrations. It is annoying and distracting (and for that matter, totally useless). Thanks.

[@reub777]

In Canada, air traffic control is handled through a private, not for profit organization called NavCanada. We don't have this stuff happening in Canada. Just sayin

[@bradzeigler]

NavCanada works a small fraction of the traffic FAA controllers work. False comparison.

[@timothybogle1461]

ATL by itself probably carries as much traffic as YYZ, YUL, YVR and YYC combined.

[@lisalu910]

Yeah, I'm sure this stuff doesn't happen at those airports out in the Yukon where maybe 15 or 20 planes are landing and taking off each day....

[@KrishnaAdettiwar]

The US has the most efficient airspace and ATL is considered the most efficient airport in the world. The US also has the safest airspace of any country on Earth despite being the busiest. Besides the fact that comparing Canadian air traffic to US air traffic is a terrible comparison, I think the US is doing justtt fine & doesn’t need Canadian advice lol

[@kelvinw.1384]

What part of Austin here makes it " the World's busiest"??? Your denoting it is #1 in the world. It is not even in the top 5 in the world by any metric. That would be Atlanta. Your punction and fact checking gets worse every year. You should put one of the world's busiest.

[@kj636]

Clipping wings, hitting trucks, end up on same runways, go arounds, cleared for take off at same time,...just matter of time before we hear the NEWS .

[@IRBry]

maybe make their shifts shorter jesus

[@valtyger]

The way staffs are dressed and posture show minimum orders and organized. It must be military protocols. Too much of personal ornaments and I don't trust this Atlanta airport. Are EXTRA Large Ear Rings and EXTENED finger nails practical?

[@haas4262]

Personal gadgets? No phones allowed on position at any FAA ATC facility. U gotta put it in a locker before going up. What r u smoking

[@valtyger]

@@haas4262 Are EXTRA Large Ear Ring and EXTENED finger nails practical? Did I say MILITARY Orders? Take a close look and MAY-DAY always be with your FAMILY!

[@haas4262]

@@valtyger if ur sense safety is jeopardized by fashion accessories you got bigger issues than u know

[@piratesswoop725]

@@valtyger please explain how earrings impede someone from doing this job?