Editing Air traffic control (section)

==Problems==

===Traffic===
{{Further|Air traffic flow management}}
[[File:Air traffic heathrow.JPG|thumb|Intersecting [[contrail]]s of aircraft over London, an area of high air traffic]]

Air traffic control errors occur when the separation (either vertical or horizontal) between airborne aircraft falls below the minimum prescribed separation set (for the domestic United States) by the US Federal Aviation Administration.  Separation minimums for terminal control areas (TCAs) around airports are lower than en-route standards.  Errors generally occur during periods following times of intense activity, when controllers tend to relax and overlook the presence of traffic and conditions that lead to loss of minimum separation.<ref>{{cite document |last1=Breitler|first1=Alan|last2=Kirk|first2=Kevin|date=September 1996|title=Effects of Sector Complexity and Controller Experience on Probability of Operational Errors in Air Route Traffic Control Centers|publisher=Center for Naval Analyses Document (IPR 95-0092)}}</ref>{{Text-source inline|date=April 2022}}

===Weather===
[[File:PSX 20150807 202515.jpg|thumb|Aircraft taking off from [[Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport]] with the ATC tower in the background.]]According to the Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO), weather significantly impacts global aviation, with more than 70% of air traffic delays being attributed to adverse weather conditions. These disruptions cause widespread delays, rerouting by ATC, and cancellations across continents. In 2024, Europe experienced a 40% increase in weather-related en-route delays compared to 2023. As climate change intensifies the frequency and severity of these events, CANSO urges collaboration and real-time solutions among global aviation stakeholders to mitigate the increased effects of weather on flight operations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The weather impact on global Air Traffic Management operations and how to solve it |url= https://canso.org/the-weather-impact-on-global-air-traffic-management-operations-and-how-to-solve-it |publisher=Civil Air Navigation Services Organisation (CANSO) |date=7 August 2024 |access-date=9 May 2025 }}</ref>

===Infrastructure=== 
Global ATC infrastructure is a complex network that varies significantly by region, with many countries facing challenges related to outdated technology, staffing shortages, and increasing traffic demand. While some regions, like parts of Europe and the U.S., have implemented modernization programs such as SESAR and NextGen,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Next Generation Air Transportation System |url=https://www.faa.gov/nextgen |publisher=Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) |date=14 January 2025 |access-date=9 May 2025 }}</ref> many others, especially in developing nations, still rely on legacy radar systems and voice-based communication, which limit efficiency and safety. These disparities contribute to delays and reduce the overall resilience of global air traffic management. According to the ICAO, coordinating ATC systems and accelerating digitalization is essential for meeting future aviation demands.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Global Air Navigation Plan 2023 Edition |url=https://www.icao.int/airnavigation/pages/ganp-resources.aspx |publisher=International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) |date=2023 |access-date=9 May 2025 }}</ref>  Similarly, a 2024 report from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) emphasizes the urgency of investing in scalable, data-driven infrastructure to handle post-pandemic growth and ensure sustainability across the network.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Air Traffic Management Infrastructure Report |url= https://www.iata.org/contentassets/c81222d96c9a4e0bb4ff6ced0126f0bb/iata-annual-review-2024.pdf |publisher=International Air Transport Association (IATA) |date=15 February 2024 |access-date=9 May 2025 }}</ref>

===Congestion===
Constrained control capacity and growing traffic lead to [[flight cancellation and delay]]s.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Harkoftaki |first=Matina |date=2 April 2025 |title=Air traffic congestion over Athens causes delays |url=https://www.ekathimerini.com/economy/1265935/air-traffic-congestion-over-athens-causes-delays/ |publisher=ekathimerini |access-date=13 May 2025 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Davies |first=Phil |date=3 March 2025 |title=Air traffic control delays and congestion hit Norse Atlantic performance |url=https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/air-traffic-control-delays-and-congestion-hit-norse-atlantic-performance |publisher=Travel Weekly |access-date=13 May 2025 }}</ref>

* In America, delays caused by ATC grew by 69% between 2012 and 2017.<ref name="Economist15jun2019" />  ATC staffing issues were a major factor in congestion.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gilbert|first=Trish|date=15 June 2016|title=Air traffic control staffing shortage must be addressed|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/technology/283328-air-traffic-control-staffing-shortage-must-be-addressed/|website=The Hill|access-date=12 August 2022}}</ref><!--ref name=Economist15jun2019-->
By then the market for air-traffic services was worth $14bn.<!--ref name=Economist15jun2019-->  More efficient ATC could save 5-10% of aviation fuel by avoiding [[holding pattern]]s and indirect [[Airway (aviation)|airway]]s.<ref name="Economist15jun2019" />

The military takes 80% of Chinese airspace, congesting the thin corridors open to airliners.<!--ref name=Economist15jun2019-->  The United Kingdom closes its military airspace only during [[British Armed Forces|military]] exercises.<ref name=Economist15jun2019/>