Photo By Sgt. Justis Beauregard | Staff Sgt. Louie Cruz, an air traffic controller with Marine Air Control Squadron 1...... read more read more
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CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan – A group of Marines helped safely land dozens of aircraft here today – they're neither pilots nor crew chiefs.
They are the air traffic control Marines of Marine Air Control Squadron 1 (Reinforced), the "Falconers," Detachment A, Marine Air Control Group 38 (Forward), 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward), who control the airspace around Dwyer.
"The pilots flying into Dwyer depend on the calm and clear guidance from the ATC Marines," said Staff Sgt. Louie Cruz, a facility watch officer with the detachment.
The Marines are responsible for relaying vital information to pilots during take off, landing and the hours in between when they're just flying.
That's just the beginning of the list of challenges the ATC Marines face each day. The Marines must memorize massive amounts of information including radar systems, the capabilities of multiple aircraft and the effects of weather. They work through language and terminology barriers with coalition forces and other branches of the United States military. The Marines have to be able to handle a variety of situations ranging from aircraft in duress to multiple aircraft operating in the same airspace.
The detachment also has to prepare for problems with their electronics and communication systems. Although the detachment uses advanced technology to track and communicate with the aircraft, when those systems go down they must have multiple back ups. Even if all of the detachment's computers and communications systems failed, the Marines could safely land aircraft on the runway through visual communication, like a spotlight.
When the wind picks up and pilots finds themselves in a "brown out," unable to see anything trough the thick clouds of dust commonly found in Afghanistan, the pilot must trust the Marines monitoring the radar to guide them to the ground.
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, the ATC Marines must be prepared for anything.
"At all times we must be alert and focused," said Sgt. Jason Grainger, a radar watch supervisor with the detachment.
If the Marines are complacent and let an aircraft fly over a live range, the results could be disastrous, explained Grainger, a Rockledge Fla. native.
"When weather is bad or the aircraft is low on fuel, the pilot is depending on you to get him down," said Cruz, a native of San Diego. "He is entrusting his life to us."
The MACS-1 detachment Marines are an essential piece of a complex puzzle on the flight line, which must come together successfully to ensure aircraft touch down and take off safely in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
| Date Taken: | 04.29.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 04.29.2010 07:29 |
| Story ID: | 48871 |
| Location: | CAMP DWYER, AF |
| Web Views: | 483 |
| Downloads: | 401 |
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