Question for any aviation enthusiasts

[Jersey mike]

I read this article regarding Newark Int Airport, they are moving the tower to Philly for better service.

Why would it be beneficial to move the tower some 90 miles south west?

“ This change, along with other initiatives, will help the FAA meet continued traffic demand in the busy Northeast Corridor, agency officials said in a statement. Newark’s airspace will be a stand-alone area in the Philadelphia control tower.”

https://www.nj.com/news/2024/03/newark-air-traffic-control-moving-to-philadelphia-as-flight-records-continue-to-be-broken.html

[Pluggy]

The Control Tower is for local airspace control.  This function is located at the airport as the aircraft can be monitored visually.  That area is the Control Zone.  The approach and departure of aircraft that are near but not in  the Control Zone is managed using radar.  This control can be done anywhere as no visual contact with the aircraft is used.  This is likely the function that will be moved to Philly.  There is also air route control and all of it is in the video.

https://www.google.com/search?q=How+does+airport+approach+control+work%3F&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS1007US1007&oq=How+does+airport+approach+control+work%3F&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigAdIBCjE2NDM5ajBqMTWoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:56dade5f,vid:ho4r3N559M4,st:0

[Moonshot_1]

Yeah, this isn't about airport approach control.

Take a look at Google Maps. Find Philly. You'll see New Jersey is immediately to the east. All, or most, of the air traffic flying through the New Jersey corridor is now controlled in NY. (Per article) The plan is to move that, controlling the traffic over NJ, to Philly because projected increases in traffic is becoming an issue for the control center in NY.

The controllers at this point do not do this visually, as in eyes on the actual aircraft, but "radar" screens and transponder info from the aircraft. (Check out "Flight Aware" app. Pretty cool app. Will give you up to minute altitude, speed, departure/arrival time, aircraft type, and other stuff. If you're into airplanes, it is way cool.)

As to why they are going to the Tower at the Philly airport I'm gonna guess that the infrastructure is there to do it. I'm sure Unions and Politics played a part too and that's how it's been done pretty much forever.

I'm not a pilot but enjoy aviation stuff.

[Jersey mike]

Ok I got it. Thanks.

[Oldfishguy]

Difficult to know the politics involved.

The N90 FAA facility has historically been hard to staff.  The normal pass rate for a candidate assigned a Center position is roughly 50%.  If one is assigned a Tower position the pass rate is substantially higher.  Candidates have no say in what track they are assigned to at initial training in Oklahoma City.  And then you have the N90 facility; it is another level of difficulty.  The amount of traffic in tight conditions just makes the job beyond most people’s ability.  

So my thoughts are they are taking this time to redesign the airspace in those busy areas probably shrinking areas of responsibility to make each controllers responsibility slightly easier.  It just happens the Philly tower has space to accommodate the extra personnel.  At the base of these large airport towers is the approach control radar personnel that control traffic near the airport.  Then as the airplane approaches the airport they are transferred upstairs to the visual seeing tower personnel.  (Opposite as an aircraft departs)

The system works incredibly well if staffed properly.  Unless of course, a line of thunderstorms roll through, or the runways are slick, or . . .

[scooperhsd]

That's pretty much the way it was when I was in Navy NFO school (1984) - Ground Control, pass to approach / departure, pass to center.

Anybody know any ex- Navy Operations Specialists ? this is right up their alley, in fact there were 2 area :  Antisubmarine Air Controller, and another that worked with fighters doing intercepts.

[Jersey mike]

Thanks again guys. Appreciate the feedback.