TOP STORY > >Air Traffic Control Tower named best in Air Force

by Tech. Sgt. Juan Torres
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

In May 2010, officials announced the Air Traffic Control and Airfield Management Annual Award winners for 2009 during the airfield operations conference awards dinner held in Las Vegas, Nev.

The 19th Operations Support Squadron Air Traffic Control Tower Air Traffic Control team earned the Air Force-level D. Ray Hardin Air Traffic Control Facility of the Year.

“I called the tower from the conference because I knew the mid-shift was working. They had no planes, so I had the supervisor put me on speaker phone,” said Master Sgt. Allan Turk, 19th Operations Support Squadron control tower chief controller. “We were all shocked. Not because we didn’t think we deserved it, but you never think something this great will happen to you!”

The team competed against all the command-level award winners. The tower earned the award for the second year at the command level in early February.

According to Air Force Instruction 36-2807, the award is given to an air traffic control facility at a particular unit that has made a notable contribution to the ATC system.

Areas considered for the award include notable contribution to quality safety, or procedural development of the ATC system, outstanding handling of an unusual traffic workload, emergency situations, deployments or exercises, sustained efficiency in air traffic control as recognized by users of the services.

As the world’s largest C-130 base, the 48 person team faced the challenge of supporting the busiest Air Force single-runway airfield. They were responsible for controlling more than 134,000 safe and expeditious annual operations with zero mishaps.

The team also provided safe priority to more than 200 in-flight and ground emergencies and coordinated fire department support for more than $2 billion in DoD assets.

The team directly impacted all of Team Little Rock by supporting 1,800 students, 38 nations, 14 flying units and nearly 100 C-130 aircraft. The team also worked with international partners as they hosted eight allied and coalition joint readiness training exercises during which they controlled 500 sorties, 421 cargo tons and 350 passengers resulting in 24,000 servicemembers trained.

They provided safe air traffic control flight operations while coordinating five airfield construction projects totaling $20 million to enhance infrastructure.

“Safety is always a top concern, especially in our career field. The controllers were met with numerous challenges this past year,” said Sergeant Turk. “Not only did we close down large sections of the ramp, they only had half a runway to operate with.

Then we switched everything up and swapped closed ends of the runway and change the configuration again. They handled it like champs.”

Lt. Col Jeffrey Gast, 19th Operations Support Squadron commander, said it was men and women’s dedication that earned the award while facing a high stress job, a constant stream of trainees, and a high rate of deployments.

“It’s effective and focused leadership at all levels, from the watch supervisor, up to the flight commander and director of operations,” he said. “They know their Airmen, they take care of the Airmen and they handle issues as they arise.”

Sergeant Turk also lauded the dedicated trainers of the air traffic control facility.

“They are the people who are on the front lines, who are doing the training, who each have 2 or 3 trainees, they are doing the book work with them, and doing hours down in the tour simulator. They are the ones getting their hands dirty. Without them, we couldn’t have earned this award.”

When asked about prospects for future awards, Sergeant Turk expressed confidence in the ATC team.

“Part of me wants to say, there is no chance we could win the AMC level award for a third year, they have to share the wealth,” said Sergeant Turk. “Then, I turn around and think; that is what I thought last year. The men and women of this control tower are dedicated enough and professional enough to win that award every year!”