CATCC Team Bringing 'em Home Safely

US Navy Press Releases
. CATCC Team Bringing 'em Home Safely

By Journalist 3rd Class (SW) Charise Cunningham, USS Kitty Hawk Public Affairs
ABOARD USS KITTY HAWK, At Sea (NNS) -- Naval air traffic controllers are responsible for safely and effectively directing aircraft operating from airfields or the decks of aircraft carriers.

The air traffic controllers aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) control the movement of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 aircraft and issue flight instructions to pilots by radio.

Inside the carrier air traffic control center, or CATCC, Senior Chief Air Traffic Controller (AW/SW) Charles Landers leads a division of 38 air traffic controllers responsible for CVW-5 air traffic.
There are five watch stations inside CATCC from which air traffic controllers assist pilots. From these stations, watchstanders assist and control traffic from the time an aircraft launches from the flight deck until it is a few miles out. Upon return to the ship, the marshal watchstander controls an aircraft from 21 miles out until the time it is back on deck.

"Sometimes, when the pilots are out on a mission, they come back very tired. Our job makes the difference whether or not they make it back safely or at all. This makes us a vital part of Kitty Hawk's mission," said Landers.

Training is a key part of the daily routine for members of the CATCC. Air Traffic Controller 1st Class (AW) Bruce James, CATCC leading petty officer, says he takes advantage of every chance he gets to train his people.

"Every time they fly, we train. We train on different pieces of equipment and different boards to keep us confident," he said. "The number one personality trait an air traffic controller needs is confidence. We deal with pilots that have been on long missions risking their lives and dropping bombs. If we are wrong or unsure, it could be deadly for them."

According to Air Traffic Controller 1st Class Dylan Frankenheimer, during different times, the CATCC team works at different levels.

Case I flight operations require minimal manning of the work center and signifies weather is clear with a five-mile visibility. Case II requires the CATCC to be fully manned, while Case III conditions require everyone in the division to be present. Case III is for night operations and heavy weather conditions.

After every flight operation, the CATCC air traffic controllers debrief to discuss each event.

"We go through every event and discuss what went wrong and what went smoothly. It's our way of checking and double-checking ourselves. It keeps us ready," said Frankenheimer.

USS Kitty Hawk remains mission-ready to respond to emergent national tasking where needed. The ship was recently ordered to the Central Command area of responsibility to join coalition forces preparing for possible operations in that area. Kitty Hawk is the world's only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier and operates out of Yokosuka, Japan.


Carrier Air Wing: Groupe aérien embarqué (GAé)
CATCC/ carrier air traffic control center: CCA/ Centre de Contrôle d'Approche
watchstanders:
flight deck: pont d'envol
marshal : correspond à quelques nuances près à la position "recueil" au CCA
petty officer: sous-off / off-mar (viens du français...à vous de voir pourquoi)
mission-ready: paré mission ( mention attribuée aux bâtiments de combat justifiant de l'entraînement nécessaire au maintient de leur condition opérationnelle)
forward-deployed: