VATUSA
Virtual Air Traffic Simulation - USA Division
Ground Control Responsibilities
Movement and Non-Movement Areas
A Movement Area is defined as an area on the airport that the local ATC authority has control over. These include such areas as taxiways and runways.
A Non-Movement Area is defined as an area on the airport that the local ATC authority does NOT have control over. This includes areas such as the ramp and general parking areas. ATC does not control aircraft movement on ramps/parking areas unless the movement of aircraft in those areas will impact the traffic flow at the airport.
Ground Responsibilities
Ground is responsible for expeditiously and safely getting aircraft from the parking/ramp area to the runway. Ground owns all movement areas with the exception of runways. Runways are the jurisdiction of the Tower controller. Anytime you want an aircraft to cross an active runway you need to coordinate with the tower controller using the same format as discussed in the basic ATC section Communication Procedures.
Differences between Class C/B and D Ground
Class Delta airports do not have a Clearance Delivery controller so it's important to keep in mind that as a ground controller you will be responsible for issuing Clearances to IFR aircraft. VFR aircraft do not receive a clearance at a Class Delta airport (and if you are at a Charlie/Bravo facility, then they will have already received their clearance information from Delivery). If a VFR aircraft calls you up requesting to taxi, or pattern work, then you would simply issue taxi instructions to the aircraft as taught in the next section.
