Marines on Okinawa keep aircraft safe, on right track

Photo By Gunnery Sgt. Jeffrey Cordero | Lance Cpl. Leland R. Michel, an air traffic controller with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, monitors a plane on radar from the air traffic control tower.  

08.22.2008

Story by Cpl. Jeffrey Cordero 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

Marine air traffic controllers with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, direct air traffic for nearly 750 planes each week.

It is the Marines' responsibility to ensure all planes within a 15-mile radius of MCAS Futenma operate safely during take off and landing procedures.

"We make sure planes get where they need to as safe and fast as possible," said Staff Sgt. Joshua E. Tims, a crew chief with MCAS Futenma air traffic control. "The air traffic
controller must be prepared to deal with any situation to complete the mission."

Controllers are responsible for maintaining aircraft at safe distances and issuing safety alerts to all pilots within the radius of operation, according to Sgt. Edgard J. Pineda, the tower and radar watch supervisor.

Air traffic controllers must be able to communicate proficiently with air crew and disseminate flight information with speed and intensity.

"Air traffic controllers must know the information and be able to apply it during any situation," Pineda said. "Basically, you have to be prepared for anything."

New air traffic controllers are encouraged to work hard and prepare themselves to learn three different positions, according to Pineda.

Flight data Marines process information obtained from Kadena Air Base and Naha airport. Final control Marines use radar positioning to manage flights passed down from Kadena that are ready to land on the runway.

Marines in the local position handle aircraft both in the air and on the runways. They pass on the information to the tower when aircraft are close enough to be cleared.

"This is considered a major position," Pineda said. "Marines must be very proficient with their job to be able to handle the local position."

Constant communication is a must so the Marines can maintain steady control of aircraft, Pineda said.

"The Marines need to be able to do anyone's job to be prepared in the event they would have to fill someone else's position," said Pineda.

Tims said the job is exciting and can sometimes "get pretty hectic."

It is the job of every air traffic controller to maintain calm and proficiency in stressful situations, he said.

It's in these situations where air traffic controllers display their "highest level of efficiency," Tims said.

Whether it is helping pilots through tough situations or passing critical flight information, Marines with MCAS Futenma air traffic control play a key role in the safety of all pilots, air crew and passengers arriving and departing through MCAS Futenma.

• Date Taken: 08.22.2008
• Date Posted: 08.22.2008 02:35
• Story ID: 22759