Differences in Oceanic Air Traffic Authority

 Oceanic Air Traffic Control Centers

    Like your typical air travel, aircraft are controlled when flying over bodies of water just the same as they are with flight over land. While some aircraft specifications and requirements may be different, the general method of air traffic control remains relatively the same. Some areas that the FAA are responsible for are large areas of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic oceans. One method that the FAA uses to control air traffic over these massive areas of water is the Oceanic Planning and Display System, or ODAPS. It is a computer software that was developed to assist in the control of several aircraft at once over large areas of water. The FAA has three main oceanic air control centers. One in New York, one in Oakland, and another in Anchorage. There does exist other relatively smaller centers, but these three are the largest with areas as large as over three million square miles. Much of the controlling done from these centers is data link enables and nonverbal to limit radio frequency overload.

Air Route Traffic Control Centers

    There are 22 air route traffic control centers across the United States, and their jurisdiction areas are based off of population density. Each of these jurisdiction areas are further broken down into 6 to 9 sub-areas to provide better control. Typically these airspaces are managed by at least 3 controllers at a time and they mostly communicate with each other verbally through radio frequencies. New developments in technologies have led to more automated control and navigation techniques though, such as Lockheed Martin developed ERAM, or En Route Automation Modernization. This uses radar, satellite, and weather information to more safely and efficiently control aircraft in busier areas. 

Comparison

    The two of these control centers have many more similarities than they have contrasts. For example, they are both using next generation technology to further streamline the air traffic control process and take sometimes unknown factors like weather and congestion into consideration. The main difference between these two authorities is that the oceanic air control centers are in charge of a much larger area, but with relatively less congestion. 

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References

Kern, R. M. (2020, January 1). Air Route Traffic Control. AVweb. Retrieved August 23, 2022, from https://www.avweb.com/flight-safety/faa-regs/air-route-traffic-control/

Oceanic modernization - worldairops.com. (n.d.). Retrieved August 24, 2022, from https://www.worldairops.com/FANS/docs/FANS_OceanicModernization_FAA_atWorldAirOps.com.pdf