>> At Toronto, are the approach controllers in the tower on the field are at a different facility? <<
The Toronto Approach controllers are located in the Toronto Area Control Center (ACC). The same building as all the Center controllers, it's located in a building beside the Tower.
I couldn't post a link, so here is the whole article from
http://www.navcanada.ca/Toronto Operations
NAV CANADA's services in Toronto are provided by two separate units located at Lester B. Pearson International Airport (LBPIA).
Toronto's Area Control Centre (ACC) is one of seven ACCs across the country providing service to aircraft flying in controlled airspace within Canada, as well as uncontrolled airspace. Toronto ACC provides coverage to approximately 145,000 square nautical miles. This airspace is divided up into eight distinct specialty areas, further divided into small parcels of common airspace called sectors. The ACC has a Traffic Management Unit, responsible for ensuring that traffic flow does not exceed capacity by instituting specialized traffic management techniques, and a Flight Planning Section, processing over 3000 flights plans a day.
The Air Traffic Control Tower in Toronto provides control services to aircraft and vehicles on the ground, and to arriving and departing aircraft within a seven-mile radius of LBPIA. One of forty-three towers, NAV CANADA's newest facility opened in November 1998, and was planned and built at a cost of $17.2 million. The tower, strategically located in the centre of all runways, is 65.4 metres high and provides 360-degree visibility of all operating surfaces.
Both facilities are equipped with some of the most advanced, state-of-the-art, technology tools. The Integrated Information Display System (IIDS) supports ten air traffic control applications, using proven windows technology. These PC-based systems are fully integrated onto flat touch-screen displays for use by controllers, with an electronic flow of data (Extended Computer Display System - EXCDS) replacing the use, in some specialties, of paper strips in tracking aircraft flight plans.
The first of its kind in North America, a voice switching and control system (VSCS), with touch-screen technology, is used in the tower to control communications with aircraft and between controllers, as well as other ground-based services dealing with aircraft. It will become the standard voice switch for NAV CANADA's air traffic control facilities across the country.
To enhance safety in the busy radar environment, NAV CANADA has developed NARDS (NAV CANADA Auxiliary Radar Display System). This independent radar back-up system provides continuous radar and flight information in the event of an interruption to the main radar processing system, where non-radar control was previously required.
Tower controllers monitor ground movements at LBPIA using ASDE, Airport Surface Detection Equipment. Two new ASDE towers have recently been installed in the north and south fields of the airport, featuring a runway incursion collision avoidance system and improved imagery enhancing the ability to identify movements on the ground as well as arriving aircraft.
A Radar Data Processing System Situation Display (RSiT), developed to serve as
NAV CANADA's newest radar situation display, is currently being installed in the ACC. Included with RSiT is a suite of software tools that increases efficiency, safety and situational awareness and provides controllers with current radar and flight data information.
Since 1963, the volume of air traffic at LBPIA has increased by about 370 per cent. Growth is forecast be close to 60 per cent from 1996 to 2011. Through increased operational efficiency NAV CANADA will serve the increasing levels of air traffic and future development plans to increase airport capacity.
Along with the installation of state-of-the-art technology and equipment, NAV CANADA's Toronto operation has undertaken numerous initiatives, in collaboration with the airlines and the airport authority to improve customer service through increased efficiency, capacity and safety.
NAV CANADA, in cooperation with its clients, has recently initiated High Intensity Runway Operations (HIRO) to increase efficiency and maximize capacity at LBPIA. HIRO focuses on minimizing runway occupancy time for both arriving and departing aircraft, consistent with both passenger comfort and safety.
Over the past two years, Toronto Operations has participated in the North American Collaborative Decision-Making (CDM) initiative. CDM promotes information sharing between the airlines and air traffic control. Through an increased awareness of system constraints, both service provider and system user can make timely collaborative air traffic decisions.
In November 1999, Toronto Operations made the transition from its existing Ground Delay Program for LBPIA to Flight Schedule Monitor (FSM), a primary tool used by NAV CANADA and major airlines in dealing with situations of constrained airport capacity or conditions that lead to a ground hold strategy. FSM users benefit from a common situational awareness and have the ability to evaluate and improve strategies used for dealing with cancellations, delays or irregular operations, leading to increased system efficiencies.
NAV CANADA is also taking advantage of the Flight Management Technology already in aircraft to standardize routes and minimize the need for communications between air traffic controllers and pilots on final approach. On a trial basis, a Pilot program approving arrival routes into the onboard Flight Management System, is now provided electronically to air traffic controllers.
NAV CANADA, the country's provider of civil air navigation services, is a non-share capital, private corporation with operations coast-to-coast providing air traffic control, flight information, weather briefings, airport advisory services and electronic aids to navigation.
