In the Air Traffic Control tower on MCAS Futenma, U.S. Marine Corps air traffic controllers are the eyes of the airfield. Whether they are in the tower looking through the windows, or watching their screens in the radar room, they are watching every movement.

Air traffic controllers with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, MCAS Futenma, separate and sequence air and ground components on the airfield to ensure aircraft can conduct their mission in a safe and expeditious manner.

Any form of movement within the airfield and airspace must be cleared and coordinated by an ATC. Without ATCs aboard MCAS Futenma, the air station would not be able to fly and conduct training.

“We’re the only thing that keeps it going, especially during the pandemic, our health was critical to training here on Okinawa for aviation,” said Sgt. Matthew Hanson, an air traffic controller with H&HS, MCAS Futenma. “We provide the ability for pilots to train and we are pretty much the safety stewards of the airfield.

Working long hours is normal for all air traffic controllers. They must be ready to communicate, coordinate and respond whenever aircraft or any other ground vehicles that are moving through the airfield.

“You have to combat complacency at all times; if there is nothing going on for three hours, your brain starts to slow down and you cannot afford that.” said Hanson. “You have to stay vigilant because when that aircraft comes in with right engine failure, you are the one who is responsible for pulling that [emergency] phone, getting those first responders out there and coordinating their movement, to keep everybody safe and saving lives.”

In the ATC tower, there are many different roles that ATC Marines fill in order for the tower to operate smoothly. Some of those roles include ground control, tower flight data, local control and supervisor. Below and adjacent to the tower is the radar room. The roles in the radar room include radar flight data and radar final controller.

Each role has their own purpose. According to Hanson, an ATC who is responsible for Ground Control will handle movements that occur on the ground. Tower Flight Data keeps track of aircraft departure or arrival and communicates with other towers such as Kadena Airbase to the north of MCAS Futenma as well as Naha Airport to the south.

Down in the radar room, Radar Flight Data is in charge of passing aircraft information to other agencies and controllers clarifying certain information such as call signs for different aircraft that may sound similar. Radar Final Controllers utilize radar equipment to guide aircraft by making course calls and having the aircraft alter their altitude, speed or direction.

Air traffic control Marines rotate out of different roles frequently to maintain proficiency and to train to a certain standard.

“Every air traffic controller is constantly training aboard MCAS Futenma,” said Cpl. Tristan Whitney, an air traffic control specialist with H&HS, MCAS Futenma.

According to Whitney, when an air traffic controller first arrives at their unit, they are given the military occupational speciality, Air Traffic Controller Trainee. They will acquire their first qualifications either in the air traffic control tower or the radar room. These qualifications are the Ground Control Clearance Delivery qualification and Tower Flight Data qualification. After the trainees acquire these qualifications, they earn their primary MOS, Air Traffic Controller Specialist. Air Traffic Controller Specialists can then train for other qualifications such as radar flight data or radar final controls as well as supervisor positions.

The ATC Marines also provide support to our host nation partners like the Japan Air Self-Defense Force who occasionally utilize MCAS Futenma’s airfield for training.
“We communicate with the JASDF everyday if not every few days; their aircraft transition through here [MCAS Futenma] routinely,” said Hanson. “We actually want them to train here more frequently.”

Air traffic controllers aboard MCAS Futenma are responsible for the safe and expeditious flow of air traffic as well as the safety and security of the mission for aviation assets on the air station.