Watchful 332nd Expeditionary Air Traffic Controllers
Logistics Support Area Anaconda, Iraq
Over the roar of jet engines and the whine of various aircraft, there are those that are tasked with direction and managing the constant stream of air Traffic. It’s the job of these brave soldiers to prioritize, direct, and keep straight the rush of air traffic in and out of Iraq.
Soldiers from the 332nd Expeditionary Op. Support Squadron (EOSS) work diligently in Air Traffic Center LSA Anaconda. Their job is to control the fifty miles of sky around their position.
“It gets busy at times, we control all of the incoming and outgoing traffic around LSA Anaconda” said Senior Master Sgt Ivan Blanco. Blanco is the Air Traffic Tower Superintendent for LSA Anaconda.
“Sometimes we have upwards of sixteen aircraft all going different places at the same time,” said Blanco. “It can be a challenge,” stated Sgt. Blanco.
“We have one of the most important jobs, Air Ops,” said Senior Airman Skakeitha Tischler. Airman Tischler is one of the Air Traffic Controllers for the 332nd EOSS Air Traffic Center.
“No two days are the same, you have to keep your mind sharp and stay alert” said Tickler.
Controlling aircraft in the air is only half the game; the other half is managing and supporting aircraft that are on the taxiways and runways, and keeping everything moving well.
“It can get very busy and crowded, we work to keep things moving smooth” said Tischler. “We keep aircraft from crashing or smashing into each other on the ground or in the air” stated Tischler.
