MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Iwakuni is known as a deployment hub for various aircraft squadrons throughout the Marine Corps and Navy deploying in the Pacific Theater. The Station’s runways are occupied with a constant flow of traffic from the ground and the sky. On a day-to-day basis, Air Traffic Control Marines from the tower and radar bunker guide aircraft in the vicinity and those inbound or outbound from the Station. “The tower keeps a safe and expeditious flow of traffic within five miles of the Station,” said Sgt. Andrew J. Dykes, tower supervisor. The tower is comprised of four different manned posts: ground controller, tower flight data, local controller and tower supervisor. “Ground control is responsible for the movement of all vehicles on or around the flight line,” said Dykes. Vehicle traffic they monitor can range from a government owned vehicle on the way to the terminal to a Crash Fire Rescue fire truck on the way to an emergency landing. The second aspect of ATC, the tower flight data, receives all of the information on aircraft departing and arriving here. “They coordinate with other outside agencies (i.e. airports) to ensure that we are aware of all pertinent information needed to provide air traffic control services,” added Dykes. The local controller controls all aircraft within five miles of Iwakuni below 3,000 feet and establishes separation between the landing and departing aircraft. “(The local controller) is the one who actually clears someone to land and clears them for takeoff,” said Dykes. The tower supervisor is the person in charge in the tower and is qualified in all three positions. The supervisor’s job is to make sure all of the rules are being applied correctly and safely. “They make sure that all of the required training in the tower takes place,” said Dykes. “They maintain a log of facility operations; their job is basically just ensuring that everything is safe and expeditious.” Marines from the tower aid aircraft from the Navy, Air Force and Japanese military, in addition aircraft from the Marine Corps. “On the average we do about 200 operations per day,” said Dykes. “They could come to pick people up for deployments or they could come for aerial refueling. It’s always something new everyday.” The Marines from the tower make sure that all arrivals or takeoffs are coordinated. The radar bunker also provides services for aircraft and interacts with the tower. “There is constant communication between us and the tower,” said Sgt. Jeffrey T. Pitman, radar watch supervisor. The Marines from the radar section keep a watchful eye out, up to 60 miles, guiding inbound and outbound aircraft. “We inform incoming aircraft about weather conditions or change in the flight schedule,” said Pitman. The pilots use two rules to determine how they will land, depart or travel at a close proximity to the runway: instrumental flight rule and visual flight rule. Instrumental flight rule is when the pilot is flying and relying on the aircraft equipment and radar controllers to guide and keep the aircraft a safe distance from other planes. Visual flight is the rule pilots use when they rely upon tower controllers for traffic advisory information. “The pilots determine which type of rule they would like to follow prior to departure. They may also choose to change at any time,” said Pitman.Radar controls aircraft that use the instrumental flight rule, but on occasions aids aircraft requesting traffic information for visual flight. “In the case of visual traffic information requests, the pilot is responsible for flying his aircraft as he sees fit. We simply inform him of other aircraft in the area,” said Pitman. “Again, with instrumental flight ruled aircraft, we tell the aircraft the specific direction and altitude to fly the aircraft in order to avoid other aircraft in the area.” When an aircraft departs the airport, it stops from using instrumental flight rule. The radar then aids the aircraft until they have arrived at their destination. There are many levels of communication to go through for just one aircraft to land. The tower and radar Marines make this possible.