The controlling documents for traffic counting and classification index (CI) calculation are the Position Classification Standard for Air Traffic Control, Series ATC-2152 Terminal and En Route, dated January 12, 1999 and FAA Order 7210.57, Traffic Counting, Reporting, and Processing for Determining Facility Classification Levels, dated November 11, 1998. The following Frequently Asked Questions must be read in conjunction with these documents and is intended to clarify counting procedures addressed therein. In the unlikely event of a conflict between these Frequently Asked Questions and the above referenced documents, the issue will be elevated to the National Validation Team for resolution. The material contained herein reflects the best intention of the parties and may be modified if it becomes apparent that the counting procedure does not meet the intent or spirit of the controlling documents.

1. What documents guide the new classification and compensation traffic counting?

The Position Classification Standard for Air Traffic Control, Series ATC-2152 Terminal and En Route, dated January 12, 1999 and FAA Order 7210.57, Traffic Counting, Reporting, and Processing for Determining Facility Classification Levels, dated November 11, 1998.

2. Where can I find the Position Classification Standard for Air Traffic Control, Series ATC-2152 Terminal and En Route and FAA Order 7210.57?

On the internet at the Air Traffic Compensation website (http://atpay.faa.gov) or the National Air Traffic Controllers Association website at http://atpayplan.natca.net/

 

Over-Flight Operations

3. What aircraft operation is considered an overflight?

The definition of over-flight is as follows: "Aircraft that transit a facility’s airspace that neither originate nor terminate within that facility’s airspace." Simply, to be considered an overflight, the aircraft must neither land nor depart within your airspace. Additionally, the traffic must penetrate the actual airspace of the receiving facility. Protected airspace outside of the actual airspace limits does not qualify. Actual airspace does not include receiving facility airspace delegated to another facility via Letter of Agreement, Memorandum of Understanding or Agreement, or any other arrangement (written or verbal) between the facilities.

4. We have traffic survey helicopters that circle on the edge of my Tower’s airspace during the morning and evening rush hours. How should these aircraft be counted?

For the Tower count, each aircraft operation will be counted as one overflight even though the aircraft may penetrate your airspace numerous times. Once that aircraft is identified and provided a clearance, it is the controller’s responsibility to keep track of the movements of that aircraft and to relay that information to any additional control positions impacted by this operation. However, an exception to this may occur if the helicopter flies an extended route away from the tower that requires a point-out, hand-off or termination of service each time before returning and penetrating tower airspace. A separate count for each such occurrence may be taken.

5. How do we count an aircraft being worked by approach that is on a photo mission along a route that takes the aircraft through my Tower-delegated airspace and the aircraft reverses course several miles later and re-enters my Tower-delegated airspace?

Normally, a single point out from approach is sufficient to provide adequate service and monitoring for these aircraft. However, if the route of flight is such that the aircraft leaves the area and approach is required to point out the aircraft again, you can take one overflight count for each occurrence. If approach does not point the aircraft out again it is a one count

6. When can a facility count Tower OverFlights?

The operation must not be landing or departing your airport. The Tower must own the airspace the operation is occurring in. If your Tower owns the airspace then delegates it away for any reason (e.g. runway configuration) this no longer considered your airspace.

7. By Letter of Agreement, we temporarily "give up" our airspace to another facility for extended periods of time. Can we count traffic penetrating that airspace during those periods?

No. Facility airspace delegated to another facility via Letter of Agreement, Memorandum of Understanding or Agreement, or any other arrangement (written or verbal) between the facilities becomes the other facility’s airspace and any operations within that airspace cannot be counted by your facility.

8. An aircraft departs a satellite airport VFR then arrives at a satellite airport VFR can I count the portion between these operations as a VFR overflight?

No. The TRACON would count this as 1 secondary VFR departure and 1 secondary VFR arrival. If these operations occurred fully within tower airspace the tower would get two VFR overflight counts.

9. How do Stand-Alone Towers count aircraft landing and departing within the Tower’s airspace but not at the primary airport? There are no provisions for counting these in the standard?

Since there are no provisions in the TTAP program for Towers to count secondary operations, it has been determined that Towers be permitted to count these operations as overflights. For example, a hospital is located 2 miles from the airport in Towers’ airspace where helicopter traffic frequently depart and exit Towers’ airspace. The Tower would count that helicopter operation as an overflight.

10. Do we receive credit for overflights that pass through multiple sectors or areas?

No. Once the aircraft enters your facility airspace you get only one count for that operation. Towers and TRACON count this operation independently of one another.

11. If I point out the aircraft to another facility do I take another count?

No. You are already working the aircraft and have received the appropriate count. In order to receive another count the aircraft must be handed off, communications transferred, the aircraft must have left your facility airspace and subsequently re-entered your airspace via a point out or hand-off.

12. We have an IR route that originates over the VOR located at our primary airport. We clear the aircraft on the route and he subsequently leaves our airspace. How do we count this aircraft?

The facility should count this aircraft as an IFR overflight since the aircraft does not originate or terminate within your airspace. .

Local Operations

13. If an aircraft taxis out to stay in the Tower’s traffic pattern and eventually lands without leaving the pattern, what is counted?

The Tower will get a local count for each arrival and each departure.

14. I have authorized a helicopter to conduct touch and goes until further advised. Can I have them call me after the operations are complete to give me a total for my Local count?

No. Assuming you have provided the original takeoff clearance, this is considered one local aircraft operation. After that point you have given the helicopter approval to operate without ATC service.

15. We have an army helicopter unit based at our airport. They are constantly practicing auto-rotations in a specially designated area. How can we count these operations?

It depends. If you are providing taxi clearance (movement area) or acknowledging taxi within a non-movement area there is no count authorized. . If the operation is structured as such that you must provide a departure clearance to the practice area, and a landing clearance upon completion, you may count only the initial departure and final arrival operation as a local operation. The auto-rotation activity is considered to be operating independently of ATC control and no count is authorized unless ATC must provide departure and landing clearance for each individual operation.

16. Does the Tower get the Local counts for the touch and go conducted by an aircraft on a practice approach returning to radar?

No. The Tower is already getting an itinerant arrival and an itinerant departure for this aircraft conducting the practice approach. To also take a local arrival and a local departure would be double counting the aircraft operation.

17. Our Tower provides radar service. Do I write a strip and send it down to the TRACON for local operations?

No. The TRACON receives no credit for local operations.

18. An aircraft in the local traffic pattern makes an extended downwind and we must point the aircraft out to the TRACON, does the TRACON take an over flight count?

If you point out the aircraft each and every time, a separate count for each occurrence may be taken as long as the aircraft penetrates the TRACON’s airspace and there is no agreement to allow the operation to take place without the point out.

Practice Approaches

19. What is the proper way to count VFR practice instruments approaches returning to departure?

A VFR practice instrument approach is counted as an IFR operation for that segment of the flight where the aircraft is provided IFR separation. In most cases this is only the approach phase of the flight. The departure phase will be counted as a VFR unless the pilot REQUESTS and receives authorization to fly the published missed approach in it's entirety. If the latter occurs then the departure segment would be counted as an IFR. Assigning a heading and altitude to the aircraft on the departure phase is not the published missed approach procedure and requires the count to be a VFR departure.

20. Is there any difference in the counting practice for those aircraft if they are conducting practice approaches at secondary airports?

No, the same rules for counting practice approaches apply to secondary airports.

21. My Tower has a Letter to Airmen stating that IFR separation services will not be afforded to those aircraft conducting practice approaches. Can I still count these aircraft as IFR if they are on VFR flight plans practicing instrument approaches?

In the event that IFR separation services are not provided, the operation is counted as VFR. If the controlling authority has a published letter to airman that states separation services will not be provided, then all flight segments shall be counted as a VFR.

22. How should an aircraft be counted that conducts a VFR practice approach and decides to stay in the Tower’s traffic pattern?

The approach phase is counted as an itinerant IFR arrival, then all subsequent operations will be counted as local operations.

23. I work at a Stand Alone Tower that routinely conducts numerous practice approaches. Because of the limited instrument approach aids at our airport, we routinely conduct opposite direction approaches to our normal runway configuration. This causes us to break the aircraft off the approach usually at the outer marker and no later than the middle marker so we can depart off the opposite direction runway. For those VFR aircraft practicing instrument approaches, we are counting the arrival portion as an IFR arrival to the itinerant airport and when we break off the approach a VFR departure. Are we counting correctly?

Practice approach aircraft that are provided separation services can be counted as both an IFR arrival and an IFR (or VFR) departure only if the practice approach aircraft actually penetrates Tower’s airspace before being ‘broken-off’ the approach.

 

Point-Outs

24. An adjacent facility calls for a point-out that has the potential of "clipping" my airspace. Can I count that point-out aircraft as an overflight?

This aircraft can only be counted if it actually penetrates your facility’s airspace. No aircraft can be counted if there is only the potential of entering a facility’s airspace.

25. My facility does not own Tower airspace. I still have to separate departures from point-outs that the TRACON calls to me. Can I count these point-outs as Tower overflights?

No, overflights can only be counted if the aircraft penetrates your airspace. In this case, your Tower does not own any airspace.

26. Our Tower owns airspace that extends from the surface to 3,000’, 5 miles from the airport. Our facility has an agreement that the Tower shall have unrestricted climbs up to 10,000’ unless approach control calls with a point-out of an aircraft which will encroach or transit this departure corridor. Can I count these aircraft as Tower overflights since I must separate and restrict my departures due to their presence?

Departure corridors are not considered Tower airspace. In this example, Tower airspace is surface to 3,000’, 5 miles. Although this procedure facilitates expeditious handling of departure traffic, Tower does not own that airspace and therefore cannot count traffic that transits above 3,000’.

27. An aircraft is arriving the primary airport, being worked by approach control and has to enter and exit the Tower’s airspace before landing. Can the Tower also count that aircraft as an overflight?

No. The Tower can only count this aircraft as an itinerant (IFR/VFR) arrival to the primary airport.

28. Can I count a point-out in the Tower for an aircraft under the control of the TRACON when the Tower and TRACON are a combined facility?

Yes, provided that the aircraft operation meets the definition of an overflight. The Tower hourly classification index is calculated separately from the TRACON’s hourly classification index. They are added together to obtain a combined hourly classification index.

29. Located close to our airport, is a satellite airport that the military uses for practicing approaches. Sometimes, as part of these approaches, these high performance airplanes enter our Tower’s airspace, as in a racetrack pattern. How should these aircraft be counted?

If you have an agreement (verbal or written) with the facility that is actually working the aircraft, which requires the penetrating aircraft to remain identified by some means be it a transponder code or some other method of identification, you may only count one overflight even though the aircraft may transverse your airspace numerous times. If that same aircraft is verbally coordinated and pointed out each time it actually penetrates your airspace, you can count each point-out that it is called to your facility.

 

Miscellaneous Operations

30. If an IFR overflight cancels his IFR and wants to proceed with the rest of the flight VFR, can I count this aircraft twice, once as an IFR and once VFR?

No. This isn’t a new operation just a change in flight status for an existing one. The facility should take credit for the operation that provides the greatest weight. Since a portion of this flight was flown IFR, the facility gets credit for working this aircraft as an IFR overflight. This is considered one IFR aircraft operation. You do not get to count this as a VFR overflight as well.

31. An aircraft departs a satellite airport VFR, is given a code, then 5 minutes later requests an IFR clearance. Can I count that aircraft as a secondary VFR departure, then an IFR overflight?

No, the count to be taken is what provides the facility the greatest weight. In this case, the greater weight is to count this aircraft as an IFR departure since the facility gets more credit than if this aircraft was counted as a secondary VFR departure.

32. How are we to count IFR pick-ups?

If it can be determined upon initial contact that the aircraft originated from a satellite airport within your airspace, count this aircraft as an IFR departure off a secondary airport. If the aircraft originated outside of your facility airspace but is landing at an airport within facility airspace, this would be counted as an IFR arrival in the appropriate category. If the aircraft continues through your airspace this would be considered an IFR overflight. This operation cannot be counted as an overflight and an arrival and/or departure.

33. Can I count helicopters if they depart from a movement or non-movement area on the primary airport?

Yes. Helicopters that depart or arrive from movement or non-movement areas located on the airport are counted as itinerant operations provided they receive a takeoff or landing clearance or proceed instructions from ATC that indicates the aircraft is receiving ATC service. Helicopters that are taxing, air or hover-taxiing cannot be counted as departures, arrivals or overflights.

 

34. How do TRACON’s count aircraft landing and departing from locations within Tower airspace but not at the primary airport?

These operations are to be counted as IFR/VFR operations to a secondary airport within 15 miles of the primary airport.

35. How are hot air balloons counted?

 

The same counting requirements apply to balloons as all other traffic. Those

airships that do not contact either the TRACON or the Tower cannot be counted

at all.

36. When should I export my data to MSDT?

As soon as possible, at the end of each month, each facility shall use the export feature of TTAP to create a file for that month and any additional information placed in TTAP since the last export. Any additional information entered should be exported using the TTAP date range feature.

Although FAAO 7210.57 doesn’t specify a timeframe for submission of data, facility classification indices are run on the 15^th of each month. The facility classification index is based upon a full year of data. Therefore, if facility data isn’t received in a timely manner, data will be identified as missing and the CI for their facility will be impacted.

From FAA Order 7210.57:

(1) Terminals, non-HOST equipped centers, and combined control facilities shall use the TTAP to submit hourly traffic data on a monthly basis.

(a) Traffic data may be put into TTAP via manual or locally developed automated procedures. All locally developed extraction software must be registered with ATX-400.

(b) At the end of each month, each facility shall use the export feature of TTAP to create a file for that month and any additional information placed in TTAP since the last export.

(c) This file shall be attached to a cc:mail message addressed to the

9-AWA-MSDT mailbox or as an internet message to 9-AWA-MSDT@FAA.DOT.GOV.

(d) The message subject box shall state the term DATA and the facility three letter identifier (e.g. DATA PHL).

(e) The file being submitted shall be sent in original format (or zipped version) without making any changes or additions to the file.

NOTE – In order to allow for time to process data and still run CI’s by the 15^th of the Month, Data needs to be exported by the 5^th of each month for the previous month.

NOTE 2 – Due to data security issues it was determined that any facility that does not use the INTRANET or FAA cc:mail system to transmit TTAP data must coordinate with FAA Washington ATX-20. INTERNET submissions may be rejected.

37. What if I have additional traffic counting questions?

Any questions about traffic counting should be sent by using FAA’s Air Traffic website. The website address to send in your traffic counting questions is http://atpay.faa.gov