ATC Explained: Flight Progress Strips

When most people picture an air traffic controller, they’ll probably think of someone wearing a headset sat in front of a radar screen.

My guess is that few will think of the humble Flight Progress Strip, and while they might look simple, they play a vital role in keeping aircraft moving safely and efficiently.

Put simply, a Flight Progress Strip is a concise record of the operational information a controller needs at any particular moment in time. Traditionally, these would be paper-based – printed automatically as required – but while they’ve largely been replaced with electronic alternatives, the purpose and information remain the same.

As wonderfully demonstrated by air traffic controller Kim Giles in the first of our new ‘ATC Explained’ video series, each strip includes information such as the aircraft callsign and type, its departure and destination aerodromes (or airspace entry and exit points for non-tower controllers), its assigned route and cleared altitude and speed.

There are differences if the strip if for a tower or radar controller – tower strips are colour coded, blue for departures, orange for arrivals for example – but in short, it’s a snapshot of a flight’s plan and current status, presented in a way that can be understood at a glance.

But strips are more than just displays, they’re active tools to help controllers maintain a clear mental picture of the aircraft under their control. Strips are arranged in bays or columns to reflect how traffic is flowing through the airspace or around an airport, with its position telling a story: which aircraft are inbound, outbound, climbing, cruising, or preparing to descend.

 

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Each controller will update the information on each strip as they issue instructions. That makes sure the information is correct for whichever controller takes over managing that aircraft. Before the advent of electronic systems, the clacking of paper strips being moved around in their plastic holders would been a very familiar sound to controllers everywhere. Now it’s largely done digitally and silently, but again the aim is the same – making sure everyone has a consistent, accurate and clear operational picture.

It’s the maintenance of that shared picture that’s absolutely vital, and while some may think of  air traffic control as a rather singular activity, it’s actually a huge team effort, with each aircraft passed from controller to controller like the baton in a relay race. Having a shared, trusted reference source makes sure everyone has the operational picture – especially important in difficult conditions – and helps each controller process the large amounts of information they need to constantly juggle.

Flight Progress Strips may not be as eye-catching as a radar screen, but they are one of the unsung heroes of air traffic control. They help controllers manage complexity, communicate clearly with colleagues, and maintain safety.

Next time you look up at an aircraft crossing the sky, there’s a good chance a controller sat in front of a Flight Progress Strip is helping guide it safely on its way.

If you’re interested in becoming a controller, find out more and how to apply at www.nats.aero/careers/operations/trainee-air-traffic-controllers