Aviation & Ships Spotting in Malta

Malta Air Traffic Services Ltd. (MATS), a fully-owned Government company set-up on March 27, 2001, is responsible for the Air Traffic Control System in the Malta Flight Information Region (FIR).  MATS provides a variety of services aimed at ensuring that aircraft flying in the Malta FIR are safely separated in accordance with international civil aviation regulations.

MATS assumed control of all air traffic and technical support services within the Malta FIR with effect from January 1, 2002, in accordance with the Air Navigation License granted by the Maltese Department of Civil Aviation (DCA).  As from the same date, MATS assumed also the responsibility of all assets previously owned and operated by Malta International Airport (MIA) in the provision of Air Traffic Control and ancillary services, except for those relating directly to the airfield namely the Instrument Landing System (ILS) and the Doppler Weather Radar. 

MATS operates out of the ATC Centre located at Luqa Airport and the Apron Management Unit located at the airport terminal.

The Air Traffic Control Services provided by Malta Air Traffic Services Ltd. are:

- Area Control Centre (ACC)

MATS personnel working in the ACC are responsible for providing control and information useful for the safe and efficient conduct of flight in Malta FIR primarily by means of radar.  The radar system in Malta gathers information from 4 different radar stations.  Two are locally based (Luqa and Dingli), a third radar is situated at Ustica (north of Palermo, Sicily) and a fourth radar is based at Kithira, in Greece.

The minimun horizontal radar separation is:

• 10 nautical miles (outside Malta TMA)
• 5 nautical miles (within Malta TMA and the airspace above it)

When radar service is not available MATS's controllers make use of different tools to keep aircraft apart.  These tools are the application of various forms of separations that are approved by the Maltese DCA and are based on standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).  The separation given to aircraft are usually based on their position, distance and timings and are aimed at providing safe passage of aircraft movements within the same geographical area.

- Approach Control

Aircraft arriving at and departing from MIA usually do so under the guidance and control of MATS's Approach Controllers frequently aided by short range approach radars.  The provision of radar service by approach has the objectives of:

• Providing radar vectoring to arriving aircraft to pilot-interpreted final approach aids.
• Provide radar vectoring to arriving aircraft to a point from which a visual approach can be completed.
• Provide radar vectoring for the purpose of resolving potential conflicts.

When radar service is provided, Approach is responsible for aircraft that have been released to the Unit (by Tower or ACC) and flying:

• In the Malta control zone.
• In the area of Gozo.
• In the Malta Terminal Control Area as appropriate (about 60NM from the airfield).

MATS's controllers working in the approach environment make use of the same radar facilities as in the Area Control but they make use of Luqa radar only, which is designated as an approach / TMA Radar.

During the final approach segment of a flight, pilots are given specific radar headings, more commonly known as vectors.  These vectors help to establish flights on a specific leg of the approach, which are as follows:

Downwind Leg:	Flying a course paralled to the landing runway in the opposite direction of landing.
Base Leg:	Flying a course that it at right-angle to the landing runway.
Closing Heading:	Flying a course that is normally 30 degrees from the final.
Final Leg:	Flying a course that is in line with the landing runway, centred on the runway and in the direction of landing.

- Aerodrome Control

The main function of MATS's Aerodrome Control is to issue information and clearances to aircraft under its control, to maintain necessary clearances and to prevent collisions between:

• Aircraft flying in the aerodrome traffic circuit around the aerodrome.
• Aircraft operating on the manoeuvring area (runways and taxiways).
• VFR traffic in the sectors around Malta and Gozo.
• Aircraft landing and taking off.
• Aircraft and vehicles on the manoeuvring area.
• Aircraft on the manoeuvring area and obstructions on that area.

MATS's Aerodrome Control is manned by a two-man team, an Aerodrome Controller and an Aerodrome Co-ordinator.  While close co-ordination is effected between the two controllers, the Aerodrome Co-ordinator shall mainly be responsible for the vehicular movements on the manoeuvering area and for working parties operating on the movement area.  The Controllers' main tool is the old Eyeball. Controllers also have a feed from the radar that helps him locate aircraft around the airfield.  The Aerodrome Controller is also responsible for alerting the Fire Section in the case of an incident or accident on the airport or in the vicinity of the airfield.

- Apron Control

The Apron controller provides advisory and flight information service to aircraft on Apron 9 at Luqa.  The Controller is also responsible for allocating the parking stand to arriving aircraft as well as delivering the ATC clearance to aircraft departing from Luqa.  In addition, Apron controllers also act as the link between the aircraft flight crews and the airport in general.  Most aircraft requests for airfield or general services are in fact routed through the Apron controllers who then liaise with the relevant service providers.

• MATS ATC's Frequencies

• Navigational Aids (Navaids)

Besides providing the Air Traffic Control Services, MATS is also responsible for the management of various aeronautical navigational aids in use within the Malta FIR.  In addition it is also responsible for the provision and maintenance of the communication facilities necessary for the control and management of the air traffic with the controlled airspace.  These facilities are provided by the Engineering and Technical Services Section within MATS. 

The navigational aids provided by the Engineering and Technical Services Section, within Malta FIR, are: