I know that within a certain distance, the takeoff and arriving airport air traffic controllers assist the pilot; although I'm not sure of the exact distance. But who assists the pilot from the ground when the plane is not within those certain distances?
John R
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ATC has several "layers". The local control tower handles ground operations and traffic within 5 miles of the airport and up to 2500 ft AGL..
Most controlled airports have radar service, with approach control services that extend up to 30 miles from the airport, and normally up to 7000 ft to 10,000ft AGL. In smaller, less busy airports, these functions may all be handled by a single controller. At major airports approach control may be handled by several controllers working in sectors, using separate radio frequencies.
. Once out of the terminal area, ATC is provided by en-route centers. These cover a large area, divided into sectors. If you ever listen to radio traffic, you wil hear pilots talking to various centers as they traverse the area, as they move from sector to sector they are told to change frequency to contact the next center or sector, as in "United 498, contact Washington center on 118,1"
The link below shows a map of the boundaries of the various en-route centers.
Anonymous
What is the airfield elevation and how high above ground is the control tower? Pilots don't report their heights above the ground, you would need to calculate it relative to sea level. If you are calculating to the nearest foot, you'll also need the air temperature. Also, why is the air traffic controller measuring the angular elevation of aircraft instead of doing his job? Or maybe this is just math homework that has nothing to do with aircraft?
Jeremy
In and around a large/moderatly sized airport the tower, and approach and departures are responsible for traffic.
Outside of these cylindrical areas of airspace ARTCC (air route traffic control center) is responsible. Also refered to as 'centers' (chicago center, minneapolis center). they are responsible for controlling traffic outside of airports. Like en route traffic basically. Just remember (or learn if you dont know) this only applies to IFR traffic. So your little cessna pilot doesnt have to talk to anyone unless theyre near an airport...unless he is IFR.
Techwing
Each controller has a specific chunk of airspace for which he is responsible. Aircraft are handled by the controller who is responsible for the airspace they are occupying. As the aircraft move from one area to another, controllers hand off the aircraft from one controller to the next, so that the aircraft is always in communication with an appropriate controller.
This extends to the ground, where special controllers also communicate with aircraft.
Rob G
An Area Control Center, more commonly referred to simply as 'center', handles that.