Air Traffic Controller (Basic Edition)

Air Traffic Controller

You’re alone at the radar, and the sky is filling up. Guide every aircraft safely to the runway, keep them apart, and steer them clear of the mountains. Hear the pilots on the radio and handle each problem before it gets serious.

How it plays

• A live radar: up to ten aircraft at once, each with a number you press (0–9) to select it.
• Four altitude levels: climb and descend between FL1 and FL4, turn in 45° steps, and cross traffic safely by using different heights.
• Landing: line up at FL1, fly along the runway, and the controller scores it. Landing streaks earn bonus points.
• Collisions: two planes at the same height and in the same spot are lost, and you lose a life.
• Terrain with rules: red peaks are fatal at any height, low hills can only be crossed at FL4, and the sea is deadly. The game warns you when terrain is ahead.
• Radio: pilots report in, ask to climb or descend, and call traffic alerts, with beeper alerts you can hear.
• Emergencies: engine failures and low fuel put a countdown on a flight. Land it in time or lose a life.
• Three lives: lose them all and it’s game over, and your best score is kept for the session.

Four airports, each harder than the last

1. Flatlands: open country and a gentle start.
2. Mountain Pass: high peaks and low hills to weave through.
3. Coastal: sea and a jagged coastline.
4. Highland: high and low ranges, narrow valleys and the fastest arrivals.

Controls

| Key | Action |

|---|---|

| 0–9 | select aircraft (unused numbers ignored) |

| Q / A | climb / descend one level (FL1–FL4) |

| O / P | turn 45° left / right |

| SPACE | acknowledge radio (stops the emergency alarm) |

| ENTER | start / continue |

Rules (Technical guide)

- **Land:** be at **FL1**, over the runway strip (±1 row), pointing within 45° of the runway direction (shown on the bottom line, e.g. "LAND FL1, FLY EAST"). Yellow dots mark the approach.

  100 points, +10 per consecutive landing (max +50), +200 for a safe emergency landing.

- **Collision:** same altitude within 1 cell = both lost, −1 life. Different altitudes cross safely.

  A red flashing "TRAFFIC ALERT" appears inside ~3 cells.

- **Terrain:** red peaks (white caps) are fatal at any level. 

Cyan hills are fatal below FL4 

Blue sea is fatal at any level. 

Pink storm clouds (airport 4) are fatal below FL4, like the hills. 

The info panel warns "TERRAIN AHEAD" 4 cells out,

 and pilots radio "REQUEST CLIMB TO FL4" when a hill is ahead.

-**Emergencies:** engine failure (can't climb, short countdown) and low fuel (longer countdown).

 Land before it reaches zero or lose a life. Flying off the radar costs 50 points  (and a life for an emergency flight)

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