USAF manages busy skies with advanced ATC solutions

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USAF manages busy skies with advanced ATC solutions

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Simple Flying | Simple Flying

By Sky Industry News

Jan 5, 2025

The United States Air Force plays a crucial role in managing air traffic control (ATC) at military bases, especially those not served by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or contract civil towers. This responsibility can be delegated to contractors or handled directly by the Air Force or other service branches. Military airbases manage various aircraft, including C-5M Super Galaxies, fighter jets, and reconnaissance drones.

Air traffic control is essential for both civilian and military aviation to prevent collisions and organize air traffic flow. ATC services are provided to all aircraft within controlled airspace, with pilots maintaining final authority over their aircraft's operation.

"While making judgments about aircraft sequencing and separation in real time, air traffic controllers concentrate on making sure that daily operations proceed smoothly," stated the US Air Force. The work involves using radar, communication systems, and weather data to provide pilots with instructions and updates.

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The US military operates approximately 4,000 aircraft under the Air Force alone, excluding additional training and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Other branches like the Army operate around 3,900 helicopters while the Navy/Marines have about 3,300 manned aircraft. The need for efficient ATC services is evident given these numbers.

Tech. Sgt. Randy Mullis from the US Air Force's 86th Operations Support Squadron expressed his satisfaction with his career in ATC: “I was very lucky to be able to join and receive Air Traffic Control as a job." Similarly, Sra Anthony Hernandez highlighted that "anybody who wants to be an aircraft controller can be an air traffic controller."

The US Air Force also contracts out many operations. On December 19th, 2024, Amentum announced it had secured a $279 million contract from the Air Force for aviation operations across Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central). Joe Kelly of Amentum remarked on this partnership: “This program leverages Amentum’s ability to integrate our advanced technologies into maintenance and operations systems.”

Amentum will deliver solutions for airfield management and critical maintenance services at installations in the Middle East as well as South Carolina's Shaw Air Force Base and Virginia's Joint Base Langley-Eustis.