Mission Spotlight: orchestrating the airfield

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Matthew Lotz
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  These Airmen, along with their Italian counterparts, start their day after climbing 144 steps to the "best view in the house."

They are the 31st Operations Support Squadron air traffic controllers. They are responsible for all movements on the airfield, coordinating Aviano's airspace and ensuring safe airfield operations.

"My job is to ensure the safety of aircraft taking off and landing at Aviano," said Senior Airman Charles Scott, 31st OSS air traffic controller. "We provide pilots with the information they needed for a successful flight."

The two sections, radar approach control and the control tower, share the airfield responsibilities. While the control tower handles takeoffs and landing once the aircraft is outside the tower's airspace, RAPCON takes over communication responsibilities.

"When an aircraft leaves Aviano's five-mile radius, we pass communication off to RAPCON, where they can provide the pilot with further information," said Scott. "At all times the pilot has someone communicating with them, even if it's not Aviano personnel."

Assisting with flying operations, the Italian air traffic controllers help the language disconnect between the U.S. controllers and the other Italian control towers.

"We can communicate with the pilots up to approximately 60 miles from Aviano, but to ensure they are taken care of, we pass them off to other Italian RAPCON units way before that," said Airman 1st Class Ian Dews, 31st OSS air traffic controller.

According to Dews, when RAPCON passes the communication over to other towers that are within the aircraft's perimeter, they may not speak English as well as our Italian counterparts.

"When coordinating with other RAPCONs, the Italian air force members lead the way," Dews said. "We are privileged to have them here to help us."

An air traffic controllers' job isn't just to watch an aircraft land safely, but a range of crucial tasks when an aircraft returns on route back to Aviano.

"First, RAPCON communicates accurate information to the pilots to be on the correct course to land," explained Dews. "While this is happening, the Airmen in the tower are coordinating with other squadrons to ensure the runway is clear and safe to land on. Everyone looks to us for making a safe landing."

Perfection is key for the success of the busy Airmen orchestrating airfield movements.

"It doesn't matter if we are up in the control tower or in the RAPCON, we can see our daily impact to the Aviano mission," said Dews. "Safely directing aircraft in and out of here shows the work we provide for the pilots. I wouldn't be here, if I didn't enjoy my job."