difference between approach and director?
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difference between approach and director?
At larger airports, there is sometimes a XXXXXXDirector frequency in addition to an approach frequency. What is the difference?
From memory, the last time I was on their frequency , I was on a SRA approach , is this coincidental or part of their function?
From memory, the last time I was on their frequency , I was on a SRA approach , is this coincidental or part of their function?
Join Date: Oct 2000
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"Director" will always be a radar controller. "Approach" will usually be a procedural controller. He'll be the guy who steps you down in the stack, maybe reads out the weather, etc. The Director will be the one who vectors you towards the runway/ landing aid.
"Approach" is the term for the Approach Control facility at an airfield but more and more are being integrated with Terminal Area services so the old "Approach" facility no longer exists. Most large "Approach" facilities are 100% radar nowadays so the controllers will all use the callsign "Director".
At smaller airfields the Approach facility still exists as part of the aerodrome ATC facility and in many cases there is no radar so you'll only get "xyz Approach".
"Approach" is the term for the Approach Control facility at an airfield but more and more are being integrated with Terminal Area services so the old "Approach" facility no longer exists. Most large "Approach" facilities are 100% radar nowadays so the controllers will all use the callsign "Director".
At smaller airfields the Approach facility still exists as part of the aerodrome ATC facility and in many cases there is no radar so you'll only get "xyz Approach".
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Just to clear up any confusion, there are still a few fields in the UK with on-site radar used by approach where the callsign remains approach and you are given a full radar control serivce. The difference being that when things get busy the approach then splits to approach and director, approach brings you off the airway/star and director gives you final vectors.
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... not at the larger places because the controllers are usually licenced to work all operational positions. Before the Approach unit at Heathrow was moved to West Drayton Penitentiary, the controllers were valid for Tower, Approach and Approach Radar.
At smaller units there may be controllers who are valid for Approach control only and they may then gain a pay rise when they get their radar qualification.
At smaller units there may be controllers who are valid for Approach control only and they may then gain a pay rise when they get their radar qualification.
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Not an ATC but a humble pilot.
At Manchester the guys and gals are App and Twr rated.
The Approach controller takes aircraft from the area people who have vectored them towards the stack. Then he vectors them off the stack (or straight towards the Loc if its quiet) on to an approximate hdg towards the Loc, but not necessarily, onto a closing hdg.
It is then the job of the Director to vector them onto a closing hdg for the Loc before handing them off to the Twr.
The director and approach are sat next to each other. Which is why they ask for callsign only to director. When it is quiet the job can be done with only an approach controller and no director. And when it is hectic there can be two approach controllers one for southern arr and one for northerly arr. And I think app for the northerly stack still looks after the low level route.
Any Manch controllers want to fine tune that for me.
At Manchester the guys and gals are App and Twr rated.
The Approach controller takes aircraft from the area people who have vectored them towards the stack. Then he vectors them off the stack (or straight towards the Loc if its quiet) on to an approximate hdg towards the Loc, but not necessarily, onto a closing hdg.
It is then the job of the Director to vector them onto a closing hdg for the Loc before handing them off to the Twr.
The director and approach are sat next to each other. Which is why they ask for callsign only to director. When it is quiet the job can be done with only an approach controller and no director. And when it is hectic there can be two approach controllers one for southern arr and one for northerly arr. And I think app for the northerly stack still looks after the low level route.
Any Manch controllers want to fine tune that for me.
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At Glasgow, the approach controller deals with all VFR and SVFR flights. The radar controller (often combined with approach) will control IFR inbounds and outbounds and when traffic levels increse, the radar controller will hand the traffic to Director who does the final sequencing for the instrument approach.
