air-traffic control

[ air-traf-ik ]

noun

1. a government service that facilitates the safe and orderly movement of aircraft within and between airports by receiving and processing data from radar and devices that monitor local weather conditions and by maintaining radio contact with pilots.

air-traffic control

noun

1. an organization that determines the altitude, speed, and direction at which planes fly in a given area, giving instructions to pilots by radio

Derived Forms

• air-traffic controller, noun

Other Words From

• air-traffic controller noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of air-traffic control¹

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

Airport security screeners and air-traffic control workers would be required to work, though absenteeism could be a problem.

From Reuters

Airport security screeners and air-traffic control workers would be required to work, though absenteeism could be a problem.

From Reuters

Travel expert Simon Calder posted to his 197,000 followers on X, which is formerly known as Twitter, that flights had returned to normal on Friday morning "with a few knock-on delays following the latest issue with air-traffic control".

From BBC

Meanwhile, United Airlines blamed FAA air-traffic control staffing shortages for delays and cancellations earlier this summer and scaled back Newark, New Jersey, routes as a result.

From Seattle Times

It is not clear how the spending caps would affect specific government operations, though the Department of Transportation this week said it would shut down 375 air-traffic control towers and the Department of Agriculture said it could make it harder for nearly 1 million Americans to access federal food aid.

From Reuters