A guide to command and control centres, and why precision is important
Command and control centres are vital to the smooth running of a number of sectors, including the military, emergency services, transportation, and many different types of businesses. In this guide, we will be explaining why it’s so important for their precision to be on point at all times and the role they play in airports.
What are command and control centres?
A command and control centre is a designated room within a building that provides a central point for all monitoring, control and command of a setting or situation. It has to be completely secure and only accessible to authorised members of staff because the operations that take place are often sensitive and require full training. They minimise any risks on-site by streamlining communication between workers and areas. This often includes the use of technology such as cameras, live data feeds, radio communications and maps, depending on their function.
A major benefit, besides the most important one of optimised safety, is that it saves money by providing a way for all communication to be done in one place, that may otherwise be spread across thousands of miles of advanced infrastructure.
What role do they play in airports?
In terms of air traffic control, a command and control centre provides data and images to those responsible for giving information to pilots – this includes which aircraft are flying in particular airspace at any given time for safe approaches and departures. This ensures that aircraft can take off and land safely. It has access to detailed information such as altitude data and flight paths to ensure maximum air traffic management effectiveness.
There are also command and control centres based within airports that are slightly different in that they monitor the goings on within an airport terminal and all other areas. They monitor the movement of passengers and report on any security incidents. Both of these types of control and command centres need to be big to facilitate lots of specialised technology and expert staff, and they can sometimes be integrated into one.
Why is precision important?
It’s vital that command and control centres operate in the most precise way possible at all times. By being able to view real-time movement and see updated information, they are able to pass on effective communication to other members of staff. This means that everyone involved in the running of the airport can do their job effectively without the need to wait for information.
If the information provided about an aircraft landing is not precise, this could result in wrong advice being given to another aircraft that it’s safe to take off when it’s not, resulting in severe consequences.
If a trespasser manages to make it past airport security, the security guards may not have even seen the person, so will be unable to provide the information needed to help find them. This is where the control and command centre comes in, as their scope of vision is not limited and they can communicate with a vast amount of people to search the airport.