Air traffic controllers take on new roles

  • Published
SAN ANTONIO (AFNEWS) --  Air traffic controllers deployed to Djibouti in the Horn of Africa must sometimes take on new roles in accomplishing the daily mission.

During the current deployment, the controllers aren't actually controlling the skies above Camp Lemonier.

"We're here in the event there's a communication barrier between the pilots and the actual controllers. If there are issues between the Djiboutian controllers and our aircraft, we act as that liaison between the two," said Tech. Sgt. Monique Whitaker, an air traffic control liaison.

Their Djiboutian counterparts can guide an aircraft without a liaison or high-tech equipment.

"One individual pretty much works things that we do without the resources that we have available to us, and they do a really good job," Sergeant Whitaker said.

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