During the peak hours of air travel, hundreds of aircrafts criss-cross the Kenyan airspace heading to various destinations. And as a matter of fact, it would be impossible to think about flying without having Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) come into your mind.
But have you ever thought about how those air vessels depart or land at various airports without colliding? For travelers, it may not be a big deal since theirs is to enjoy a cool journey over the clouds and across the skies.
As you are seated in your comfortable seat in the plane, it is never an effortless moment for the pilot who keeps engaged with air traffic controllers all through the journey, with the intention of propelling the air vessel to the designated destination.
An aerial View of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
FILE
The role of ensuring the safe operation of planes falls on the shoulders of air traffic controllers, who work in tandem with the pilots to counter all the complexities both at the airport and while en route. The controllers help pilots to navigate through challenges such as bad weather or missing routes.
However, traffic control is not only about the controllers at the airports’ towers but is also a more complex system running from ground controllers to services from distance in-room men and women who may be located outside an airport.
Pilots adhere to land laws regulating air mobility within particular airspaces while receiving instructions from air traffic controllers. However, the pilots in command may deviate from the instructions in the case of an emergency, if they believe their independent decision is for the purpose of the safety of the aircraft.
Before leaving an airport, your pilot inspects the plane following particular guidelines. They then file a flight plan that includes the airline number, flight number, type of aircraft, cruising speed, altitude, and the intended route. The plan is filed through transmission to the airport tower 30 minutes…