A Terminal Control Area is a volume of controlled airspace set up at the confluence of airways in the vicinity of one or more major airports. Its purpose is to protect departing and arriving aircraft by requiring all flights within its boundaries to operate under strict air traffic control clearance. The airspace is typically shaped like an upside-down wedding cake, expanding outward at higher altitudes.
We need to get our clearance before penetrating the TCA.
Also heard as
- Terminal Control Area
Related terms
Air corridor
A designated block of airspace through which aircraft are required to fly.
Approach
The final phase of a flight where an aircraft aligns with the runway for landing.
Sector
A single flight leg from takeoff to landing, including the associated ground preparation.
Holding pattern
A holding pattern is a standardized racetrack-shaped flight path used to delay an aircraft in flight.