CAB air traffic controllers receive FAA rating

By Sgt. 1st Class Brent Hunt

CAB PAO, 4th Inf. Div.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - Three Multi-National Division - Baghdad air traffic controllers have become officially rated for the first time in their careers by the Federal Aviation Administration at Camp Taji.

Spc. Radha Bhramdat from New York City, Pfc. Jose Cordova from Phoenix, and Pfc. Scott Vongpradith from Fort Worth, Texas, assigned to Company F, 2nd Battalion, Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, reached the milestone six months into the "Iron Eagle" brigade's deployment to Iraq.

To become rated by the FAA, the Soldiers had to qualify at the two-position air traffic control tower at the airfield on Camp Taji. The qualification included 154 days of on the job training at the flight data and local/ground controller stations.

Pfc. Scott Vongpradith, air traffic controller, Company F, 2nd Battalion, Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad from Fort Worth, Texas, tracks a Blackhawk helicopter landing on the Camp Taji Airfield. Vongpradith received a Federal Aviation Administration rating after serving 154 days of on the job training while deployed to Iraq.

"Being rated means you are proficient at your job," said Bhramdat who is serving on her first deployment to the region. "This facility is very busy and the hardest part is keeping everything safe and having to multi-task. Learning how to deal with multiple aircraft simultaneously is tough."

Bhramdat works in a company of more than 40 air traffic controllers who are responsible for safely orchestrating arrivals and departures of various types of fixed and rotary wing aircraft.

Flights depart and land both day and night at the airfield north of Baghdad, and the air traffic controllers coordinate their movements so accidents do not occur. They make certain that aircraft stay at a safe distance apart and direct them efficiently to minimize delays.

During arrival, as an aircraft approaches the airfield, the pilot radios ahead to inform the tower of the aircrafts presence. If the path is clear, the controller directs the pilot to the runway; if the airfield is busy, the aircraft is instructed to wait to land.

Spc. Radha Bhramdat, air traffic controller, Company F, 2nd Battalion, Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad from New York City, tracks flights coming in and out of the Camp Taji Airfield. Bhramdat received a Federal Aviation Administration rating after serving 154 days of on the job training.

The procedure is reversed for departures. The controller tells the pilot when it is safe to depart, and issues a clearance for the pilot. Once in the air, the aircraft is guided out of the airfield's airspace by the controller.

"It (having three more FAA rated ATCs) makes the mission a whole lot easier, because we can reduce the number of controllers on shift, especially during leave," said Sgt. 1st Class Derrick Brown, acting first sergeant, who hails from Kingstree, S.C. "Having more FAA rated controllers gives us a lot of flexibility with personnel."

The Fort Hood, Texas, based company stood up less than two years ago and many of the Soldiers and the company as a whole are still growing. More than 80 percent of the controllers were straight out of advanced individual training when they joined the company.

With many of the controllers in the company new to the mission, receiving their first rating opens the gate to work at other air traffic control towers. Essentially, they can now work at any air traffic control tower after a brief familiarization class on the specific airfield or airports operations. The first time a controller is rated is the only time they have to wait the initial 154 days before receiving an official rating.

"Being rated has been my goal since I deployed here," said Vongpradith. "It is a big deal being rated, because you are capable of managing air traffic control towers. A rated controller makes sure everyone does everything right."