Cleveland Air Route Traffic Control Center, Air traffic control facility in Oberlin, Ohio, United States.
The Cleveland Air Route Traffic Control Center is an air traffic control facility in Oberlin that oversees airspace across seven states and southern Ontario. The complex uses radar and computer systems to manage flights heading to and from major airports including Chicago, Detroit, and New York.
The facility was founded in 1936 at Cleveland Municipal Airport before moving to Oberlin in 1961 as air traffic grew. A new building opened in 1969 to house the expanded operations needed for managing increased flight volumes across the region.
The center serves as a training hub where air traffic controllers learn and refine their skills through hands-on simulation work. This mission shapes the daily work of professionals who keep air travel safe across a major region.
The facility is located on a dedicated campus outside the city and can only be visited with prior permission. Tours require security clearance and advance booking since this is a federal government installation.
The facility played a role in one of the most significant moments in American aviation history when controllers here monitored radio communications during a critical incident. The events of that day demonstrated the quick thinking and professionalism of staff working under extreme pressure.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
