Air traffic controllers discuss road ahead

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jason Lake
  • 321st Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
CAMP TAJI, Iraq --  Ten U.S. Air Force and Army air traffic controllers advising their Iraqi counterparts at major installations around Iraq convened here April 28 to discuss airfield plans for the final months before U.S. troops exit under the Dec. 31, 2011, mandate.

"[The meeting] was an excellent opportunity to see firsthand the results of our advisors' hard work partnering with the Iraqi air force," said Lt. Col. Daniel Kaltenbaugh, Iraq Training and Advisory Mission - Air operations division chief deployed from Kadena Air Base, Japan, and Sandy Lake, Pa., native. "They are to be commended on formulating a solid plan for success that we will follow through to the end of this historic chapter in Iraqi air traffic control."

The air traffic controllers and advisors from Ali, Taji and Baghdad discussed the Taji airfield transition plan as U.S. forces prepare to turn over control to the Iraqi Army Air Corps controllers in the upcoming months. The team also addressed the impact and specific operational requirements for U.S. air traffic controllers as their work locations shrink throughout the transition.

"The planning for the ATC program until end of mission was expertly done and, at this point, we are mostly adjusting to situations that arise in execution mode," explained Capt. Robert Hughes, who recently took over the role of senior ITAM-Air ATC advisor from Capt. Maureen Trujillo, who redeployed home last week after a year in Iraq. "The details of the end of mission are still fluctuating, but I'm looking forward to taking the framework provided by Captain Trujillo and adjusting it to fit whatever the final roll-out turns out being."

Captain Hughes, who arrived here last month from Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., said the group of controllers talked about the equipment, personnel and capabilities their Iraqi partners could provide at the end of mission.

Last month, ATC advisors certified three Iraqi air traffic controllers from Taji and Ali airfields - bringing the total number of certified Iraqi air force controllers to 18. In the past year, the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority has also licensed six IqAF controllers - a first in IqAF history.

"I am proud of the accomplishments the entire ATC training team has made over the past year," Captain Trujillo said before starting her journey home to Dyess AFB, Texas. "Last May we had no certified controllers, and today we have 18. We are well on the way to providing the Iraqi air force and Iraqi Army Aviation Command the foundational air traffic control capabilities they will need in the near future."

The next milestone on the horizon for Taji air traffic controllers is the grand opening of a new $11 million air traffic control tower.

"During the meeting, we discussed contingencies for moving into the new ATC tower here," said Captain Hughes, who calls Chesterfield County, Va., home. "We hope it will be open before our air traffic controllers leave so we can help our Iraqi partners troubleshoot and get them acclimated to their new workspace."