ATC
n. uncountablen. Stands for Air Traffic Control. The system of people and technology that guides planes safely through the sky and at airports. These workers tell pilots when it is safe to take off or land.
n. Abbreviation for Air Traffic Control. The service provided by ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and through controlled airspace. Often functions as a collective noun for the personnel or the system itself.
The pilot contacted ATC to request permission for takeoff.
Heavy fog at the airport forced ATC to increase the spacing between arriving flights for safety.
Modern aviation safety relies on the seamless coordination between flight crews and ATC to manage high-density traffic in complex terminal environments.
Usually used without an article when referring to the service ('contact ATC'), but can take 'the' when referring to the specific unit or facility.