KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- Staff Sgt. Marquese Hayden, 8th Operations Support Squadron air traffic control watch supervisor, visually identifies a previously unidentified aircraft on the runway here May 2. Each landing aircraft must touchdown, slow and exit the runway before the next crosses the approach and end of the runway. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ciara Wymbs)

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ATCs: Kunsan’s eyes, ears

KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- Senior Airman Joe Lopez, 8th Operations Support Squadron air traffic controller, and Staff Sgt. Marquese Hayden, 8th OSS ATC watch supervisor, observe the arrival flow of aircraft on the tower radar here May 2. Traffic flow is broadly divided into departures, arrivals and overflights. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ciara Wymbs)

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KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- Staff Sgt. Staci Oleary, 8th Operations Support Squadron air traffic controller, scans the runway prior to clearing an aircraft for takeoff here May 2. Scanning the runway ensures there are no animals or other aircraft on the runway prior to a plane's takeoff. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Ciara Wymbs)

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ATCs: Kunsan’s eyes, ears

Published May 3, 2011
8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- Kunsan's air traffic controllers ensure flightline operations run smoothly and without any hitch. These highly alert Airmen are charged with ensuring flightline safety and accurate communication is upheld.

They monitor traffic flow via their radar. This flow is broadly divided into departures, arrivals and overflights. They also scan the runway to guarantee there are no animals or other aircraft that can be on the runway prior to takeoff.

Another vital function is making sure each landing aircraft touches down, slows and exits the runway before the next crosses the approach and end of the runway.