Air traffic services

The primary goal of air traffic control operations is the safety of air passengers: aircraft must not get too close to each other at any stage or to vehicles operating in the airport movement area. A second goal is ensure the smooth flow of flights so that they are able to take-off and land on time. The third factor guiding the operations is the general responsibility relating to the environment. Routes are planned so that air traffic creates the lowest level of emissions and noise possible and likewise consumes as little fuel as possible.

The aerodrome control tower located in the air traffic control tower is responsible for the safety of runways and taxiways. The approach control office directs aircraft that are approaching the airport, or which have just taken off, by separating the arriving and departing flights. The area control centre, however, assists air traffic that is en route and in training areas.

Services for customers' needs

Finavia's objective is to provide its customers, airlines and actors in military aviation and general
aviation, safe and smooth services with no delays which support efficient operations by the users of airspace in according to their needs.

The basis for service provision at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport is to manage air traffic in accordance with the agreed timetable and without any delays. In the longer term, planning is undertaken within the air navigation operations for the growth in international traffic, especially traffic to Asia.

At other airports, the aim is that customers are provided with services as agreed and in an efficient manner in accordance with the timetables. The needs of military aviation are also catered for at Tampere-Pirkkala, Jyväskylä, Kuopio and Rovaniemi airports. Halli and Kauhava airports operate solely as military airfields.

Planning for the growth in international traffic, especially concerning overflights and Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, takes place within regional air navigation operations. Customers are offered the shortest routes possible and the optimal use of airspace for state aviation. Resources are planned on the basis of traffic volumes and airspace reservations notified in advance.

At some of Finavia's airports, where traffic volumes are lower than average, an aerodrome flight information service is provided instead of an air traffic control service. At these airports, called AFIS (AFIS= Aerodrome Flight Information Service) fields, air traffic is provided with an information service covering, for example, other aircraft, their position as well as weather and runway conditions.

In addition, Finavia provides air traffic briefing services to ensure separation during the flight and alert services, the purpose of which is to notify the appropriate organisations of any search and rescue needs and to help the organisations in question as required.

> Read more about enroute services

> More information on training for the air navigation sector