Electronics and communications in air traffic control

The history and development of air traffic control techniques are briefly outlined with particular reference to the rapid growth in the number of aircraft movements during and after World War II. The methods employed for the safe handling of large volumes of civil and military air traffic in crowded air space are discussed, and the systems of electronic position identification, guidance and communications currently used to support the management task are described together with their necessary performance characteristics. The growth predictions for air traffic movements and the demands which these will make upon the existing system performances are then examined. This is coupled with some speculative consideration of new techniques and systems which might possibly be introduced in the future.