2008 Woodie Awards
Tower controllers take on seemingly impossible task
Aaron Smith
Issue date: 3/10/08 Section: News
Over the past year, some new voices have been traversing the radio waves at Prescott Tower. These are the voices of trainees that have recently joined our lovely little piece of sky. Over the years, Prescott Tower has been at the pinnacle of customer service and took what seems like an impossible task, providing service to us and three other flight schools along with scores of transients, in stride. Normally, we are the ones doing the training and they always display the utmost in professional courtesy and undying drive to improve the already stellar services that they provide.
Now, the shoe is on the other foot. Prescott Tower is training a number of new personnel that range from brand new controllers to controllers who have worked some of the busiest airspace in the country. All new incoming controllers must be trained on ground, local 1 (125.3) and local 2 (128.75). This training takes about a year, depending on experience, and each controller must get certified on each position.
Although it seems at times they perform superhuman tasks such as working both left and right traffic on runway 12/30 with 10 planes in the pattern, Air traffic controllers are human, just like the rest of us. And, as with all humans, controllers can make mistakes. They can issue incorrect clearances just as easily as a pilot can read back and follow an incorrect clearance.
Since most of us rely on the tower for correcting our mistakes, it may be tough to speak up when the tower issues an incorrect clearance or uses phraseology that we are not used to. If something does not make sense, we need to start speaking up or asking for clarification when we receive a clearance that does not sound correct. Remember to go with your gut feeling; if it does not sound right, then it probably is not. No one will judge you for speaking up.
Tower does a superb job keeping us safe. Next time you notice they are doing a good job, let them know. They are human too and they will appreciate the compliment. Help them help us.
Now, the shoe is on the other foot. Prescott Tower is training a number of new personnel that range from brand new controllers to controllers who have worked some of the busiest airspace in the country. All new incoming controllers must be trained on ground, local 1 (125.3) and local 2 (128.75). This training takes about a year, depending on experience, and each controller must get certified on each position.
Although it seems at times they perform superhuman tasks such as working both left and right traffic on runway 12/30 with 10 planes in the pattern, Air traffic controllers are human, just like the rest of us. And, as with all humans, controllers can make mistakes. They can issue incorrect clearances just as easily as a pilot can read back and follow an incorrect clearance.
Since most of us rely on the tower for correcting our mistakes, it may be tough to speak up when the tower issues an incorrect clearance or uses phraseology that we are not used to. If something does not make sense, we need to start speaking up or asking for clarification when we receive a clearance that does not sound correct. Remember to go with your gut feeling; if it does not sound right, then it probably is not. No one will judge you for speaking up.
Tower does a superb job keeping us safe. Next time you notice they are doing a good job, let them know. They are human too and they will appreciate the compliment. Help them help us.
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