The main role of the control center is managing the air traffic flow and secure various information that may affects the aircraft operation. The control center integrates aviation and flight information work and communication work for the efficiency and accuracy of work. In addition, it establishes a cooperative work system with external agencies such as the Air Force and Aircraft Supervisory Service.
Flow management work
The most representative role is the overall management of air traffic flow of entire of RKRR through consultations with neighboring countries such as China and Japan, major control agencies, airport operators, and airlines.
When the number of aircraft from neighboring countries, increases to an extent so that they can not accommodate each country will issue restrictions to adjust the number of aircraft. Flow management is controlling the number of aircraft through certain measures.
The air traffic flow management work in the control center is divided into a planning team that performs the preliminary action planning and a tactical team that performs actual flow management according to the preliminary plan, and the tactical team is responsible for overseeing and in charge of flow management. Flow management supervisor, flow management operator who is in charge of issuance, modification, and cancellation of COBT and CTOT, flow manager who is in charge of receiving, issuing, and disseminating flow management through cooperation with neighboring countries and each control agency on flow management, Lastly, we have post-analysis and data management managers who manages data related to flow management and are responsible for analyzing the results of flow management and improving future work.
Flight information and search and rescue work
This work refer to the reception and management of flight plans filed by airlines in advance for aircraft operation, and grasping information on all aircraft operating in all airspaces of Korea and permitting foreign aircrafts to pass through domestic airspace. It can be used as preliminary air traffic analysis data for performing flow management tasks.
In addition, In emergency such as an aircraft distress or disappearance, the control center provides information so that appropriate operation control can be performed when necessary, while rescue agencies such as the Fire Department and the Maritime Police Agency can smoothly perform search and rescue operations for the accidental aircraft. The Aircraft Search and Rescue Support Center (ASAC) has been formed so that it can be used, and it is also playing a role as a search and rescue support department.
Aviation information service
Each country disseminates information on departure/arrival airports and change of flight procedures and settings that aviation workers, such as pilots and controllers, need to know in advance for the safe operation of aircraft through the system, NOTAM.
The aviation information part is in charge of receiving and generating and distributing aviation notices, temporarily prohibited areas or cancellation of the operation of a specific area through cooperation with related organizations (government agencies, Ministry of Defense, Airport Corporation, airlines, etc.) when necessary.
Since this information can give a great influence on aircraft operation, the control center can increase the accuracy in performing flow management tasks and secure the safe operation of the aircraft.
Aviation communication service
Flight plans which are essential for aircraft operation, aircraft carriers, and flight announcements are received or issued through the globally established aviation fixed telecommunication network called AFTN (Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunication Network), and related information is received and issued through this AFTN.
Information such as flight plans, weather reports, and flight notices received through the aeronautical fixed communication network (AFTN) became important for flow management related to the aircraft operation, and therefore the control center is required to carry out the relevant tasks as well.
External agency duty
Air Force
In Korea, Military Operation Area (MOA) occupies most of the airspace (more than about 60%) due to national security it is required to perform flow management to manage amount of air traffic vulume in a narrow airspace. Cooperation with the military for civilian aircraft’s using military airspace is very important.
Accordingly, the control center establishes a cooperative system for the actual use of military airspace by working with military cooperative in a same space for efficient flow management. In particular, Korea can receive information quickly about abnormal situations such as North Korean missile launches and local airspace penetration. It is possible to take adequate measures for the safe operation.
Aviation meteorological Office
The factor that has the greatest influence on the operation of an aircraft is weather. In particular, dangerous weather such as typhoons and heavy snow threatens the safety of aircraft and can cause heavy delays, cancellations, and decrease capacity. Therefore, accurate weather forecast is one of the important factors for effective flow management, which analyzes the effect on air traffic in advance.
Currently, the weather coordinator dispatched from the Aircraft Supervisory Service provides major weather information to the control center provide weather briefings and when a typhoon occurs, they provides actual relevant information such as the intensity of the typhoon and the actual movement course for accurate flow management decisions. It is very contributive and can help to make plans to establish a more active flow management cooperation system.
- Status of seats at the Air Traffic Command Center