What Is ATC? Definition & Meaning in Aviation
ATC (air traffic control) is the service that directs aircraft to keep them safely separated and moving in an orderly way.
In plain language
Controllers work in towers at airports, in approach centres that handle arrivals and departures, and in area centres that manage aircraft between airports. They give instructions on route, altitude, speed and runway.
Example
When many aircraft arrive at once, controllers may hold some in a pattern or slow them down, which can add minutes to a flight.
Why it matters
Air traffic control is the reason aircraft can fly safely close together. Delays caused by “air traffic” usually mean that controllers have limited the number of aircraft they can handle at once, because of weather, congestion or closures.