Control tower

A control tower is part of an airport from which Air traffic control is conducted. Control towers generally rise high above other structures at the airport to give air traffic controllers a view of aircraft moving about on the ground and in the air around the airport. They usually have windows that circle the entire top floor, giving 360 degrees of viewable area. Small airports may have only one person staffing the control tower, and may not keep the tower open 24 hours per day. Larger airports usually have space for several controllers to work and operate 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. Control Towers usually contain the following:

• any radar systems that controllers use to track aircraft
• radios via which controllers talk to aircraft crew
• a light gun for communication with aircraft via aviation light signals in the event of a radio failure
• a telephone or possibly even a direct line to fire and ambulance services

See Also

The railway equivalent of a control tower is called a:

• Signal box (English)
• Signal cabin
• Signal tower (American)