Air Traffic Services

Control of air traffic was almost unknown in 1944. Today, air traffic control, flight information and alerting services, which together comprise air traffic services, rank high among the indispensable ground support facilities which ensure the safety and efficient operation of air traffic throughout the world.

The prime objective of air traffic services, as defined in ICAO Annex 11, is to prevent collisions between aircraft, whether taxiing on the maneuvering area, taking off, landing, en route or in the holding pattern at the destination aerodrome.

Air Traffic’s goal is to find ways of expediting and maintaining an orderly flow of air traffic and of providing advice and information for the safe and efficient conduct of flights and alerting service for aircraft in distress. To meet these objectives, ICAO provisions call for the establishment of flight information centers and air traffic control units.

ICAO Responsibilities

Requirements

There is an International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) obligation that Air Traffic Services are to be provided within ICAO Contracting States and their Territories. The Cayman Islands, being an Overseas Territory of the Unites Kingdom, has given the Cayman Islands Airports Authority the contracted responsibility of providing Air Traffic Services in the Cayman Islands’ airspace.

Under the Air Navigation (Overseas Territories) Order, as amended, the Civil Aviation Authority is responsible for the regulatory safety oversight of the Air Traffic Services unit.

Regulatory Requirements

OTAR Part 172 Subpart B sets forth the documentation necessary for Air Traffic Services Approval.