Iraqi airmen closer to controlling Taji Tower

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Kimberley Harrison
  • U.S. Air Force Central Command Combat Camera
CAMP TAJI, Iraq (AFNS) --   Working with civilian contractors, Airmen here are preparing Iraqi airmen for the eventual transfer of air traffic control operations.

"We currently have 16 Iraqi Air Force students involved in training at this time," said Staff Sgt. Shannon Grice, 321st Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron air traffic control adviser. "The class is divided into two groups; basic air traffic control and hands-on training, which is accomplished in the air traffic control  tower."

Overall responsibility for Taji Tower operations rests solely with U. S. Army Soldiers assigned to the 1st Aviation Brigade deployed from Fort Riley, Kan. They work with the Iraqi airmen during their training times.

"When the trainees come over, we give them control of the tower," said Army Sgt. Douglas Miller, who is a shift supervisor and former Air Force Airman. "We're here as oversight during that time. They take over complete operations while they're training and we monitor what they're doing."

The U.S. Army may "own" the tower but the Airmen charged to teach the introduction to air traffic control have a much more difficult task: communication.

"The hardest part of training in the classroom is trying to explain things in English to someone whose native language is Arabic," said Sergeant Grice who is deployed from Yokota Air Base, Japan. "It's very confusing. Overcoming the language barrier can be difficult."

With most Air Force training and mentoring programs here, the language barrier seems to be the constant. Without the dedication these members bring to training each and every day, the Iraqi airmen wouldn't be able to progress.

"Having a regular conversation with our students is easy," Sergeant Grice said. "It's the technical communication that is the most difficult to work out."

It's also the technical communication that is the key to being successful.

"The accountability of an air traffic controller is huge because they're responsible for providing safe, expeditious and orderly air traffic services to all aircraft in order to prevent collisions while also issuing pilot advisories and separating aircraft both on ground and in the air to prevent collisions and to ensure their landing areas are free of vehicles and personnel," Sergeant Grice said.

In order to accomplish this, controllers need to be well-organized, possess firm decision-making skills and have excellent hearing and speaking skills. A misunderstanding between altitude levels or runway numbers can be fatal.

Before students are eligible to participate in the ATC class, they have to pass a Defense Language Institute test, which demonstrates their proficiency level in the English language; however, before the Iraqi airmen can be certified, they need to be at an English "4 level," Sergeant Grice said.

As instructors, Sergeant Grice and Master Sgt. Todd Wilson, ATC advisor, are teaching basic aircraft mechanics, aircraft characteristics, navigation and basic "VFR and IFR," or visual flight rules and instrument flight rules.

Two Iraqi airman have been in training for six months and have completed 76 hours of "controller time." They have 15 additional hours remaining before their training is finished and they can become certified air traffic controllers.

"This is a very interesting job," said 2nd Lt. Shorsh, an Iraqi air force trainee.

Lieutenant Shorsh has received word from the Iraqi Ministry of Defense he will stay on to work in the Taji Tower once his training is complete.

"I'm happy to know I'll be staying here at Taji," Lieutenant Shorsh said. "I'm excited."

His classmate, 1st Lt. Murtada, feels proud to be back doing what he knows best.

"I worked in air traffic control for 10 years when I was in the old Iraqi Army," Lieutenant Murtada said.

"I'm happy to be back in the job."

Not all students who begin class will complete training.

The number of students who participate in each class may vary, even as class is in progress, Sergeant Grice said. The Iraqi Ministry of Defense may pull them and move them to another location or into completely different job training.

Lieutenant Shorsh is a prime example of that. He was in pilot ground school training when he got word his orders were changed. He doesn't regret the change in direction and is now close to possibly becoming Taji's first Iraqi-certified air traffic controller.

"I really enjoy this job," Lieutenant Shorsh said. "I have good instructors with the U.S."

Good instruction can get only get them so far; there are other characteristics needed to help shape a good controller.

"Being able to multi-task is a very important part of air traffic control," Sergeant Grice said. "There are times they'll be talking with not only multiple aircraft, but other controllers in the tower and possibly other facilities outside the tower."

Iraq Training and Advisory Mission-Air Force is in the careful process of transferring all ATC operations to the Iraqi military before the U.S. drawdown is complete.

Ken Valentine, site lead and ATC instructor and Patsy Thomas, ATC instructor and former U.S. Air Force air traffic controller, are Washington Consulting Group civilian contractors responsible for instructing the hands-on portion of training to the future Iraqi air traffic controllers.

Due to slight differences between the U. S. and Iraqi requirements, the contractors have to follow both Federal Aviation Administration and International Civil Aviation Organization rules.

"I like working with the Iraqi airmen," said Ms. Thomas, a Chester, Ill., native. "The two I'm working with now are two of the most motivated students we have, so it's enjoyable."

Iraqi airmen aren't the only ones in training. First-time deployers, U.S. Army Specialists Brandon Forrester and Cyrus Haines, deployed from For Riley, are completing their time requirement before becoming certified controllers.

"This is my first CTO (control tower operator)," said Spc. Forrester, a Pittsburgh, Penn., native. "It's a lot of work, but it's interesting to work with the Iraqi Air Force and watch how they work and how well we work together."

"It's a good facility for me to train in for my first CTO," said Stillwater, Okla. native Spc. Haines. "There is a good amount of traffic here... one of the busier facilities in Iraq. It's a good experience."

Taji is considered one of the busiest military air traffic control towers in the region. It requires careful attention to detail and keen observation skills.

The primary method of controlling the air environment is visual observation from the tower. Since there isn't a radar in the Taji tower, controllers need to handle everything visually.

"You have to look out to find what's flying around and in the case of a UAV, it's very small and hard to detect," Lieutenant Murtada said. "Every day you must have your eyes open."