ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Air traffic management

Air Traffic Management is like the game of directing traffic, but with airplanes! Just like how a person stands on the street and uses their hand to signal drivers to go or stop, air traffic controllers use special technology and hand signals to make sure airplanes in the sky go where they are supposed to go, and don't run into each other.

Before a plane takes off, the pilot talks to the air traffic controller who tells them when to take off and what direction to head. While the plane is in the sky, the air traffic controller keeps an eye on it to make sure it doesn't run into other planes. They also give instructions on when to change altitude or turn to the left or right.

Air traffic controllers use radar and other equipment to track the planes and make sure they are flying safely. They talk to pilots all the time through radio communication, and make sure that everything they do is coordinated and organized.

Overall, air traffic management is like playing a big game of directing traffic in the sky, making sure planes safely and efficiently get to where they need to go without crashing into anything or each other.