Definition
A voice communications network used by air traffic facilities to talk to each other on the ground, connecting controllers at different centers, towers, approach control facilities, and flight service stations. It is separate from the air/ground radios that controllers use to speak with pilots.
Plain English
The phone-and-intercom system that controllers use to talk to other controllers and other ATC facilities, not to pilots.
Context Anchor
Seen in NextGen discussions about how FAA ground facilities share information and coordinate traffic.
Derivation
The name describes the path of the communication. 'Ground/ground' means both ends are on the ground, distinguishing it from 'air/ground' communications, where one end is in the aircraft and the other is on the ground.
Why Pilots Care
Reliable ground-to-ground links reduce delays in controller coordination and improve overall traffic flow management.
Intuition Check
Do not read ground/ground as pilots talking while on the ground. Here it means one ground facility or controller position talking to another ground facility or controller position.
Example Sentence 1
The center coordinated the reroute with approach control over the ground/ground voice communications system before issuing the new clearance.
Example Sentence 2
NextGen enhancements include modernizing the ground/ground voice communications system to integrate with data link capabilities.