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CHERRY POINT, N.C. - Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week,
365 days a year, Cherry Point's radar room and control tower never
shut down.
The air traffic controllers who oversee Cherry
Point's airspace and runway operations issue clearances and feed
information to pilots and aircrew on the ground and in the air.
Their mission, to prevent collision of aircraft and ensure smooth
flow of traffic, is vital to Cherry Point's mission and national
security.
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Staff Sgt. Ralph F. Pyles III, an approach controller with the
Air Traffic Control tower, watches as an aircraft touches down on a
Cherry Point runway on Nov. 21, 2013. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by
Lance Cpl. Grace Waladkewics)
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Cherry Point's ATC controls over 5,000 square miles of
airspace. Attention to detail, mission focus and teamwork
are all imperative to the safety of Cherry Point service
members and civilians in surrounding communities.
“Every day is a different scenario, nothing is ever exactly
the same. There are so many things the runway can be used
for so every day is something different,” said Lance Cpl.
Michael Van, an ATC specialist. “Even though I am a
supervisor, I am still constantly learning new things and
new ways to operate.”
Marines in the tower and radar room fill several, unique
roles. Each crew member has a job to do, whether it is
granting access, watching the radar from the ground,
directing aircraft and vehicles on the runway or feeding
information to pilots. All jobs are essential to daily
mission accomplishment.
The controllers aim to keep
the air and ground space safe and accident free. Ensuring
safe operations can be exhausting so teamwork and
proficiency are key, according to Van.
“Maintaining
safety is everyone's responsibility,” said Van. “We take
breaks and switch on and off like pilot and co-pilot so we
don't get burned out.”
ATC Marines cross-train
constantly to learn and sharpen their proficiency in each
function of the ATC. The Marines conduct simulations and
exercises to test their understanding and proficiency in
their assigned roles and to identify ways to improve.
“ATC works very closely with the pilots and weather,”
said Lance Cpl. Christopher Chase, an ATC specialist.
“Anything could happen out of the blue within minutes and it
is the job of ATC to keep pilots informed and safe.”
Training and education give the ATC Marines an edge and help
alleviate some of the stress of day-to-day operations,
according to Chase.
“There is an extreme level of
stress at times because if someone makes a mistake it
affects others lives,” said Chase. “Once you become a
qualified controller, completing the intense training, you
must perform at the top of your game 100 percent of the
time.”
By USMC Lance Cpl. Grace Waladkewics
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2014
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