air traffic control

noun

: the process or system by which the movements of aircraft are monitored and directed by ground personnel communicating with pilots by radio

improving the technology used for air traffic control

also : the personnel who operate an air traffic control system

Pilots would still have to file flight plans, which could be modified by air traffic control if they posed any safety hazards.

—David R. Hinson

Examples of air traffic control in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Airlines scrambled Wednesday to dig out from the backlog triggered by technical problems experienced by the United Kingdom's air traffic control system that has forced the cancellation of more than 2,000 flights. — Arkansas Online, 10 Sep. 2026

Airline operations across the UK have reportedly resumed following an air traffic control failure that cancelled over 2,000 flights and left hundreds of thousands of travelers stranded at airports throughout the country. — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2026

Budget carriers Ryanair and Wizz Air have called for the head of the NATS, Martin Rolfe, to consider resigning after a second major outage hit the air traffic control system in three years. — ABC News, 9 Sep. 2026

If your flight was delayed or canceled following Tuesday’s air traffic control issues at NATS, you may be entitled to flight compensation. — Alessia Armenise, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1919, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for air traffic control

• amphibole
• asystole
• buttonhole
• casserole
• centriole
• decontrol
• glycerol
• metropole
• monopole
• multipole
• omeprazole
• oriole