Photo By Cpl. R. J. Driver | An air traffic controller with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron organizes flight...... read more read more
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In order to keep the Air Station operating safely and efficiently, air traffic controllers work behind the scenes to help pilots navigate the skies.
Entrusted to control a $35 million aircraft comes at a hefty price, which is why air traffic controller consistently makes the list of most stressful jobs in the world and requires continuous training for the Marines in that field.
The road to controlling an aircraft is a long one littered with knowledge and certifications each Marine needs to obtain from the beginning at their military occupational specialty school.
“From the beginning, our job is difficult and requires a lot of studying,” said Sgt. Keith Atkinson, an air traffic controller with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron. “The first part of our training is a month and a half of paper exams.”
They spend months learning how to be a controller on simulators and taking exams, but perfect the skills when they reach their first duty station.
According to Atkinson, before Marines can control an aircraft, they have nine months to earn two certifications in the tower or in the radar control room. Once that happens, they are able to control aircraft.
“After all the hard work and long hours of studying, it is such a relief and a privilege to be able to actually control the airfield,” said Cpl. Bryan Forbes, an air traffic controller with H&HS. “Words can not explain the way I felt at the time. At first I was nervous, but I calmed down once I recalled my training, which gets me out of any situation. Afterwards it was an overwhelming sense of accomplishment.”
Once controllers reach the culmination of training by being able to control an aircraft, they quickly see that the training does not stop there.
“After you are certified in the tower or the radar control room, you have another three years to be certified in both and to obtain one of the major certifications for one of the fields,” Atkinson said.
The tower has one major certification and the radar control room has two. To be able to obtain either of the major certifications, the Marine must be certified in both the tower and radar control room, and have a total of 12 years to receive all certifications.
“It is a challenge to get all the certifications and being stationed at the Air Station gives the Marines here an advantage,” Atkinson explained. “Beaufort is home to one of four class 4B facilities in the Marine Corps, which means it has all the positions the air traffic controllers can learn.”
The versatility of the Marine Corps is also reflected in its aircraft. Not just a one trick pony, the Corps’ air attack feature fixed wing and rotary weapons, which poses another obstacle for controllers, who think they have mastered it all.
“When you leave Beaufort, you can end up at a base with different aircraft,” Atkinson said. “Then the learning process starts all over again.”
Adaptable and intelligent best describes the Marines of ATC. They guide the Air Station’s pilots to the fight and are here to greet them on their return.
| Date Taken: | 02.04.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 02.04.2011 16:15 |
| Story ID: | 64842 |
| Location: | BEAUFORT, SC, US |
| Web Views: | 50 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Inside the tower: ATC exposed, by Cpl R. J. Driver, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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