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Young Airman takes on big responsibility as an air traffic controller

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Alexa Culbert
  • 42nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. --  The old, metal staircase spirals upward six stories, with ladders giving access to the next two before reaching the top of the tower. The air is warm and thick and gets hotter near the top.  At the end of the eight-story climb is a panoramic view of the base and its surroundings.

The air traffic control tower oversees the base's entire flight line and its height lets air traffic controllers see aircraft flying within the base's immediate air space.

The hike up the tower is getting easier for Airman 1st Class Vincent Camarata, 42nd Operation Support Squadron air traffic controller apprentice, who makes the climb every day.

Camarata is only a junior enlisted Airman, but the Air Force entrusts him with the responsibility of ensuring that both people and aircraft are safe while taking off, landing and flying.

"Air traffic control is all about keeping aircraft safe," said Camarata. "Without eyes on the outside to tell pilots where to go and what to do, they tend to get into accidents."

Maxwell is the Air Force's second busiest air passenger terminal for distinguished visitors, so it is good to have eyes in the skies.

"Air traffic controllers are the people who can see where all the aircraft are, how fast they're going, how high they are and where they're trying to go," he said. "Then we coordinate everything and relay it back to the aircraft."

Air traffic control operations can be a difficult job; the training alone has its own set of challenges.

After graduating basic military training, Camarata was sent to Keesler AFB, Mississippi, for a 72-day course on his new occupation, which has a 60 percent wash-out rate.

"People always told me it was going to be tough job, and they were right, especially the training," said Camarata.

When he arrived at Maxwell, which is his first duty station, the training didn't stop. He is now participating in thorough on-the-job training.

"Once I hit training and was put in the thick of it, things got really intense," said Camarata. "Part of it is to make sure I can handle the stress of being an air traffic controller and that I don't become complacent."

After technical school, air traffic controllers have to earn ratings from their supervisors before they are trusted to handle the job on their own. Camarata is now in the process of becoming rated, or certified.

"Someone is always watching me and making sure I don't screw up," said Camarata.

"It was the same as with any trainee, he struggled at first," said Senior Airman Christian Malnar, 42nd OSS air traffic controller journeyman.  "But now he is doing well, and we are pleased that he is going to make it through training."

"Air traffic controllers take their jobs very seriously," said Camarata. "They were tough on me, but for good reason. They wanted to make sure that once I do get rated, I will take good care of the aircraft and its passengers."

Keeping lives and millions of dollars of equipment safe can put a lot of stress on someone, but adding the extensive training to the responsibilities can be too much to handle for some people. Camarata, however, does not get caught up in the stressful aspects of the job.

"I don't get nervous at all. I have trainers and supervisors who can help me out, and I study a lot," he said. "I feel like I'm a good match for this job, because I'm not afraid and I'm less likely to mess up because of it."

"He's very confident in talking to the aircraft and fully understands that there are lives in there, and he handles that very well," said Malnar.

This young Airman isn't fazed by the tremendous responsibilities placed on his shoulders. He has made it through technical school, almost earned all his ratings, after which he will be on his way to becoming a certified air traffic controller.

"During training, you will stumble a ton before you get the basic fundamental parts of it right, but when I do my job well, I feel really good about what I did," said Camarata.