NATCA Bookshelf

PUBLICATION SPONSORED BY ATCA 9 Thales is honored to support IFATCA in its goal to promote safety, effi ciency, and regularity in international air navigation Search: Thalesgroup t h a l e s g r o u p . c o m THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL AIRSPACE SYSTEM BY THE NUMBERS: 21 En Route Centers (20 in continental U.S., one in Alaska) 3 Center Radar Approach Control facilities (San Juan, Honolulu, Guam) 27 Terminal Radar Approach Control facilities (TRACONs) 131 FAA Air Traffic Control Towers 132 Combined Tower/TRACONs 1 FAA System Command Center 253 Contract towers in Federal Contract Tower program (NATCA represents 76) 70,000 Flights handled daily 7,000 Aircraft in the air at any given time 2,000,000 Passengers served daily 134,700,000 Total operations annually 30.2 million Square miles of airspace 17 Percent of the world's airspace $1.5 trillion Contributed to the U.S. economy; more than five percent of gross domestic product 11.8 million Aviation-related jobs Here in the Las Vegas, Nevada area, there are three main air traffic control facilities that worked your aircraft on its final leg into McCarran International Airport (KLAS) and will work the beginning stages of your flight home: Los Angeles Center (ZLA): Located in Palmdale, California, this regional en route center is responsible for 177,000 square miles of airspace covering all of Southern California and parts of Utah, Nevada, and Arizona. There are 212 fully certified air traffic controllers working at ZLA, with another 58 in training. Las Vegas Terminal Radar Approach Control (L30): Located at McCarran Airport, this radar facility handles all terminal airspace within a 40-50 mile radius. There are 43 fully certified controllers working at L30 and 12 more are in training. Las Vegas Air Traffic Control Tower (LAS): 40 fully certified controllers work at KLAS, with another three in training. The airport is the eighth-busiest in the world, with more than half a million aircraft movements each year. Additionally, the area's robust general aviation community is served and kept safe by North Las Vegas Tower (VGT), where 12 fully certified controllers and one trainee work. YOUR ANNUAL CONFERENCE EMCEE We are excited to introduce you to Richard Kennington, who will serve as master of ceremonies this week. Richard knew he wanted to be an air traffic controller when he toured a tower at age 8. Prior to starting his career, he became a pilot while working as an aircraft dispatcher for a large aviation training company. Later, he worked as an assistant airport manager at a small airport in Pennsylvania while he earned his college degree. In 1999, Richard joined the Federal Aviation Administration where he has worked at Salt Lake City TRACON and, currently, at Portland Tower in Oregon (PDX). He married an Italian woman and he only speaks Italian to his two girls so they will learn the language. When not controlling airplanes, he referees basketball and volleyball. He also serves NATCA as the facility representative at PDX and the legislative representative for the Northwest Mountain Region. Richard says he feels fortunate to have served on the IFATCA Annual Conference Organizing Committee. "I look forward to getting to know my fellow controllers from around the world," he said. "I think we have a lot that we can learn from them, so I'm honored to be able to share this experience." Note: Does not include U.S. Dept. of Defense military facilities.

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