Indianapolis Air Route Traffic Control Center

The Indianapolis Air Route Traffic Control Center (ZID), located in Indianapolis, Indiana, is a key facility among the 22 FAA Area Control Centers in the United States. It manages the safe and efficient flow of aircraft across a vast area of approximately 73,000 square miles, covering parts of several Midwestern states. As the 12th busiest ARTCC, it handled over 2 million aircraft operations in 2024. The center is notable for its historical significance, having been involved in critical events such as managing American Airlines Flight 77 on September 11, 2001, and being the first to implement advanced communication technology for air traffic control. Additionally, ZID has made its mark in popular culture, featuring in Steven Spielberg's film 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind,' where it plays a pivotal role in a dramatic air traffic scenario involving unidentified flying objects.