View source for Security Control of Air Traffic and Air Navigation Aids

{{Short description|US emergency preparedness plan}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{use mdy dates|date=September 2019}}
The '''Plan for the Security Control of Air Traffic and Air Navigation Aids''' ('''SCATANA''') is an emergency preparedness plan of the [[United States]] which prescribes the joint action to be taken by appropriate elements of the [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]], [[Federal Aviation Administration]], and the [[Federal Communications Commission]] in the interest of national security in order to effectively control air traffic and air navigation aids under emergency conditions.<ref name=DOD_1975>{{cite web |url=http://marines.mil/news/publications/Documents/MCO%20P3720.1C.pdf |title=Security Control Of Air Traffic And Air Navigation Aids (SCATANA) |author1=United States Air Force |author-link=United States Air Force |author2= United States Army |author2-link= United States Army |author3= United States Navy |author3-link= United States Navy |date=25 June 1976 |accessdate=May 18, 2009|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090312135223/http://www.marines.mil/news/publications/Documents/MCO%20P3720.1C.pdf|archivedate=March 12, 2009 }}</ref><ref name=faa>{{cite web |url=http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/AIM/Chap5/aim0506.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090801124631/http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/ATpubs/AIM/Chap5/aim0506.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2009-08-01 |work=Aeronautical Information Manual |title=§5-6-1-g Special Security Instructions |publisher=[[Federal Aviation Administration]] }}</ref> Known versions of the plan are dated June 1971 and August 1975. The plan implements parts of the [[Federal Aviation Act of 1958]], the [[Communications Act of 1934]], and [[Executive Order 11490]] of October 28, 1969 (amended by [[Executive Order 11921]] on June 11, 1976).<ref name=DOD_1975/>

A similar plan by the same name existed in [[Canada]] for many years before it was replaced by the '''Emergency Security Control of Air Traffic (ESCAT) Plan''' on October 9, 2002.<ref name=Canada_ESCAT>{{cite web |url=http://www.tc.gc.ca/civilaviation/RegServ/Affairs/carac/NPAs/ANS/Gaz2-oct02R.htm |title=Regulations Amending the Canadian Aviation Regulations (Parts I, VI and VIII) |author=Canada Gazette |author-link=Canada Gazette |date=October 9, 2002 |accessdate=May 18, 2009 |archive-date=July 26, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090726010632/http://www.tc.gc.ca/civilaviation/RegServ/Affairs/carac/NPAs/ANS/Gaz2-oct02R.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Use on September 11, 2001 ==
The U.S. plan has been implemented once (other than tests) since its inception, and even then, it was a modified version. On September 11, 2001, the codeword was broadcast ordering that all U.S. air traffic be grounded, after the [[September 11 attacks]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Leader Focus&nbsp;— SCATANA|url=http://www.kenkemp.com/leaderfocus/LFNOV18_01.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150826052706/http://www.kenkemp.com/leaderfocus/LFNOV18_01.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 26, 2015|date=November 18, 2001}}</ref>  Even in that instance, the emergency plan was only partially implemented as the Defense Department left command and control of the air traffic system with the [[FAA]] and intentionally allowed all [[radio navigation|radio navigational aids]] to remain in operation to aid in the process of controlling and landing the thousands of planes which were aloft in domestic airspace.<ref name=eberhart_testimony>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A49429-2004Jun17_5.html |title=Transcript: 9/11 Commission |date=June 17, 2004 |quote=So our SCATANA said, 'Leave the nav aids on.' Our SCATANA said, 'FAA, you still control the traffic that's flying.' Our SCATANA said, 'Law enforcement and Flight For Life can continue to fly.' We don't want to ground them during this terrible tragedy. And then procedures for getting waivers to fly.  So we had to take that procedure and modify it to this horrific act that occurred on 9/11. |first=Ralph |last=Eberhart |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=July 25, 2024 |archive-date=November 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191110095258/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A49429-2004Jun17_5.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The ''[[9/11 Commission Report]]'' never refers to SCATANA directly, but it does discuss this unprecedented order and commends the [[air traffic controller]]s who carried it out.<ref name="911commission">{{Cite web|url=http://www.9-11commission.gov/report/911Report.pdf|title=9/11 Commission Report|access-date=July 25, 2024|archive-date=August 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803190003/https://www.9-11commission.gov/report/911Report.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

While several people have been credited with issuing the SCATANA order for a national ground stop, the 9/11 Commission credits FAA National Operations Manager [[Ben Sliney]] with effectively issuing the directive. At 9:42 am on the morning of September 11, 2001, after the [[Air Traffic Control System Command Center]] learned from news reports that a plane ([[American Airlines Flight 77]]) had crashed into the [[The Pentagon|Pentagon]], Sliney "ordered all FAA facilities to instruct all aircraft to land at the nearest airport".<ref name=911commission />

==See also==
* [[CONELRAD]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Federal Communications Commission}}

[[Category:air traffic control in the United States]]
[[Category:aviation law]]
[[Category:Federal Aviation Administration]]
[[Category:Federal Communications Commission]]
[[Category:September 11 attacks]]
[[Category:United States administrative law]]
[[Category:United States Department of Defense]]
[[Category:United States federal government administration legislation]]