The Air Traffic Organization (ATO) is the operational arm of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). As an air navigation service provider, it is responsible for ensuring the safety, efficiency, and capacity of the U.S. national airspace system, covering over 29 million square miles. The ATO works with the FAA's Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST) to integrate commercial space operations, including launch and re-entry activities, into the national airspace while protecting public safety. Key activities include air traffic control, setting operational requirements, managing performance metrics, and collaborating with organizations like the European Space Agency and the European Commission to develop new aviation standards.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
The FAA requested $7,000,000 in additional funding for its Air Traffic Organization related to commercial space activities.
Duane Freer, manager of space operations for the FAA’s air traffic organization, noted that 92% of launches affecting the national airspace system originate from Cape Canaveral.