Why do air traffic control towers have slanted windows?
No matter where you fly to or from in the world, one thing is the same at each airport you visit; the air traffic control tower. Even if you have not actually seen a tower in the flesh, you would have, no doubt, seen one on the news or in a film. No doubt you would have noticed how the design is almost exactly the same on each tower you’ve seen, with one particular constant – the windows.
The windows in the towers are always dark and they are always slanted towards the base of the tower too. A lot of people mistakenly believe the windows are like this in order to protect pilots flying into land and taking off, from the reflection of sunlight. However, they are in fact positioned in this manner to help those working in the tower.
Those working in air traffic control need to be protected from all distractions so they can just focus on their job. The tilted glass helps keep them from any such distractions by directing any wayward light away from the main section of the tower.
Edit : We see reflections in glass all the time, for example, from computer monitors or car windows. But air traffic controllers must not have any distracting reflections as they monitor flights. By tilting the glass away, any errant light from inside the tower (such as video screens, lights, etc.) are reflected up onto the ceiling, which is painted black.
What is the official language of air traffic control?
From 2008, via a ruling made by the United Nations’ International Civil Aviation Organisation, every single pilot and person working within air traffic control are required to speak English. English is therefore the official language.
This ruling was made as a result of the number of accidents and lives lost due to the large number of communication problems occurring between pilots and air traffic controllers all over the world. Having one official language ensures such problems are eradicated.
Image source - Gatwick Control Tower
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