Controllers keep air traffic on course Published Dec. 5, 2005 By Senior Airman Bryan Franks 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) -- In a cold, dark box the size of a small bedroom -- set apart from everything else here -- work the 332nd Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron combined en route radar approach controllers. The controllers maintain the airspace over central Iraq and handle air traffic for both military and civilian aircraft flowing in and out of Balad and Baghdad International Airport. "Radar controllers have a lot of responsibility," radar controller Tech. Sgt. Rich Lopez said. "They work hard to provide a smooth and efficient operation around the tactical airspace." Controllers provide two main services for aircraft entering thee airspace -- approach and en route service. Approach service guides aircraft coming into or leaving an airfield or airport. The Airmen handle anything between five and 50 miles out, said 1st Lt. Erin Decker, the squadron’s airfield flight operations officer. En route service is responsible for handling the “super highways of the skies.” They keep the air traffic flowing through central Iraq, entering and leaving the country, she said. Airmen spend two hours at a time watching a radar scope, which tells them the altitude, direction and the separation from other aircraft. The Airmen do more than 500 operations a day. "This is the best job you can have in the Air Force," radar controller Senior Airman David Hyman said. "It gets busy in here -- and I like it busy." The six-member crews work with tactical equipment and handle 10 to 30 operations at a time. There is one radar final controller who works each shift. That person’s job is to help pilots during approaches and landings in inclement weather or poor visibility, Lieutenant Decker said. They use precision approach radar that tells them exactly what the aircraft is doing, allowing the controller to relay the information to the pilots with less than a five-second lapse between transmissions. One of the most difficult jobs is coordinating air traffic around the tactical battle airspace, which can pop up quickly. "This is the most complex operation I have ever seen," radar air traffic controller Staff Sgt. Brandon Oyen said. The combined en route radar approach controllers and tower controllers maintain control of civil air traffic in the theater. "We follow the same rules and regulations as a normal airport back in the States for air traffic management," Lieutenant Decker said.