Definition
The air traffic control position responsible for directing the movement of aircraft and vehicles on the airport's taxiways and other non-runway movement areas. Ground Control issues taxi instructions, clearances to cross runways, and coordinates surface traffic between gates, ramps, and runway hold points. It operates on a published frequency separate from Tower (which controls the runways themselves).
Plain English
The controller who tells you where and how to taxi on the ground. After landing you switch to them to get directions to your parking spot, and before takeoff you talk to them to get permission to taxi to the runway.
Context Anchor
Seen on charts, airport diagrams, and procedure figures where radio frequencies or controller positions are listed.
Why Pilots Care
Clearance from ground control prevents runway incursions and keeps surface movement orderly.
Intuition Check
Do not read CON as connection or GND as a terrain note. In this context, GND CON means Ground Control: the controller or frequency for ground movement at the airport.
Example Sentence 1
After clearing the runway, the pilot contacted GND CON for taxi instructions to the ramp.
Example Sentence 2
GND CON cleared the aircraft to taxi via Alpha to the ramp.