Washington Air Route Traffic Control Center
Encyclopedia
The primary responsibility of ZDC is the separation of overflights, and the expedited sequencing of arrivals and departures along STARs (Standard Terminal Arrival Routes) and SIDs (Standard Instrument Departures) for the Washington-Baltimore Metropolitan Area, the New York Metropolitan Area
, and Philadelphia among many other areas.
Washington Center is the 3rd busiest Air Traffic Control Center in the United States. In 2004-2005, Washington Center was responsible for handling 4,884,000 flights. The Washington ARTCC currently covers 165000 square miles (427,348 km²) of airspace that includes airports in Maryland
, Pennsylvania
, West Virginia
, Delaware
, New Jersey
, Virginia
, and North Carolina
.
Note: During periods of traffic saturation in the Shenandoah Sector, ZDC will split the Shenandoah sector into 2 sectors making Wahoo a second Super High Sector over the Roanoke and Lynchburg, VA areas. Shenandoah normally overlaps the Tech High and Gordonsville High Sectors above FL330. When traffic demand is high, Wahoo is actived to overlap the Gordonsville High Sector above FL330 covering J37 & J75 from GVE VOR south while Shenandoah will overlap Tech High Sector above FL 330 and cover traffic on J48 from CSN VOR south, J22 from MOL VOR south and J53 south of ASBUR intersection near LWB VOR.
Note: Sector 30 OLD Valley VAL has been changed to NEW 72 Shenandoah SHD Super Hi Sector in Area 1 above. Old Valley Sector merged into Sector 29 Hot Springs.
New York metropolitan area
The New York metropolitan area, also known as Greater New York, or the Tri-State area, is the region that composes of New York City and the surrounding region...
, and Philadelphia among many other areas.
Washington Center is the 3rd busiest Air Traffic Control Center in the United States. In 2004-2005, Washington Center was responsible for handling 4,884,000 flights. The Washington ARTCC currently covers 165000 square miles (427,348 km²) of airspace that includes airports in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, and North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
.
Basic Breakdown of Sectors
ZDC is divided into 8 Areas numbered 1 through 8 that make up 46 sectors. They are mainly broken down into Low Altitude, Intermediate, High Altitude and Super High Altitude sectors. There are 18 low sectors, 14 high sectors, 5 super high sector and 4 various other type sectors including 1 High/Low Altitude sector and 3 Intermediate altitude sectors.Super High Sectors
- 72 Shenandoah SHD 127.925 mhz/269.375 mhz
- 07 Wahoo WAH 121.925 mhz/346.375 mhz
Note: During periods of traffic saturation in the Shenandoah Sector, ZDC will split the Shenandoah sector into 2 sectors making Wahoo a second Super High Sector over the Roanoke and Lynchburg, VA areas. Shenandoah normally overlaps the Tech High and Gordonsville High Sectors above FL330. When traffic demand is high, Wahoo is actived to overlap the Gordonsville High Sector above FL330 covering J37 & J75 from GVE VOR south while Shenandoah will overlap Tech High Sector above FL 330 and cover traffic on J48 from CSN VOR south, J22 from MOL VOR south and J53 south of ASBUR intersection near LWB VOR.
Low Sectors
- 26 Sampson SAM 135.300/285.500
- 27 Liberty LIB 135.200/348.650
- 28 Rocky Mount RMT 118.457/279.650
Low Sectors
- 02 Casanova CSN 133.200/282.200
- 05 Linden LDN 133.550/322.550
- 22 South Boston SBV 124.050/352.000
- 29 NEW Valley VAL (formerly Hot Springs HSP)134.400/353.900
Note: Sector 30 OLD Valley VAL has been changed to NEW 72 Shenandoah SHD Super Hi Sector in Area 1 above. Old Valley Sector merged into Sector 29 Hot Springs.
Low Sectors
- 01 Elkins EKN 128.600/387.100
- 06 Hagerstown HGR 134.150/227.125
- 15 Blue Ridge BLR 133.650/285.600
Low Sectors
- 23 Cape Charles CCV 132.550/256.80
- 51 Casino CAS 127.700/285.400
- 53 Kenton ENO 132.050/354.150
Low Sectors
- 24 Cofield CVI 123.850/323.000
- 25 New Bern EWN 135.500/272.750
- 33 Franklin FKN 132.025/290.425
High Altitude Sectors
- 10 Bay BAY 132.275/379.300
- 12 Brooke BRV 126.875/327.000
- 16 Hopewell HPW 121.875/323.225