Talk:ATC Zero

Incorrectly used
Any ref I have found to this term is when ATC is unavailable, not when airspace is closed. Paul Beardsell (talk) 17:36, 21 April 2010 (UTC)
 * Paul's correct, at least for the US. I work in an American ARTCC and we use the term to indicate that an ATC facility is unable to provide services (eg. they've lost all power to radios). 75.172.16.172 (talk) 06:29, 25 February 2013 (UTC)

And the 2nd ref goes nowhere. I've flown all over and never heard the phrase used. The first ref is one ref and I cannot find any others. Time to get this page removed. Finally Paul Beardsell (talk) 23:22, 14 June 2013 (UTC)
 * This is just my uneducated guess, but maybe you haven't heard the phrase because it's quite rare that it ever happens? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.251.37.117 (talk) 16:55, 15 November 2013 (UTC)

This article should be deleted
Almost all the refs I can find on the web to "ATC zero" seem to quote this article or an earlier version of it. Paul Beardsell (talk) 09:35, 30 June 2013 (UTC)

The 9/11 Commission's report does refer to "ATC Zero" and they say what it means, which is a somewhat less than was claimed in the article:


 * At the same time, New York Center declared “ATC zero” — meaning that aircraft were not permitted to depart from, arrive at, or travel through New York Center’s airspace until further notice.

This was not in itself a blanket ban on all aviation [although such a ban was was to follow]. Flight outside of controlled airspace was not curtailed by NY Center's closure of its airspace - and there is lots of uncontrolled airspace near New York.

I have removed ref to the commission's report therefore as not supporting the original claims of this article as to the meaning of "ATC Zero".

Paul Beardsell (talk) 10:14, 30 June 2013 (UTC)

Use of this term
Dunno if this will help, but LiveATC.net has a recording of an incident in which BWI control tower was hit by lightning and lost power. An announcement was made "Attention all aircraft, Baltimore is going ATC Zero" and directing them to contact another tower. Here's the link (requires free forum registration to listen) - http://www.liveatc.net/forums/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=11024.0;attach=7383 69.251.37.117 (talk) 16:52, 15 November 2013 (UTC)