MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C.,- --
Hunched forward in
the dark radar room of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point’s air traffic
control, Cpl. Justin McDaniel focused on the small greenish symbol displayed on
his radar screen and listened carefully to the disembodied voice in his
headset. The voice calmly reached through miles of nighttime darkness from the
tight cockpit of a 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing AV-8B Harrier, and the pilot needed
help.
Returning from a mission on Dec. 1, 2015, the pilot had
suddenly found himself without one of the primary features necessary for a safe
return to the air station – his Harrier’s navigation system was “inop” – a
problem that was compounded by low visibility due to weather and lack of daylight.
He was, for all practical purposes, flying blind.
This was just the sort of situation that pilots and air
traffic controllers constantly train for, and one of the reasons that the two
share a special relationship. The pilot’s first job is to fly the airplane,
regardless of the situation. The controller’s first job is to help keep pilots
safe in the air, whether it is by keeping them spaced appropriately apart to
avoid collisions, or by guiding them through situations where the extra set of
electronic eyes can make an important, even critical, difference.
According to Gunnery Sgt. Louie Cruz, the air traffic control
radar chief with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron, the pilot had declared
a state of emergency and required ATC guidance to safely land the aircraft. McDaniel’s
actions on Dec. 1 were the product of extensive training and confidence in his
own skills.
Like his fellow air traffic controllers, McDaniel communicates
with civilian and military pilots as they navigate through Cherry Point’s 9,
145 square miles of airspace. Additionally, he provides verbal guidance to
pilots to assist with a safe landing during training and emergency landing
procedures. McDaniel is also responsible for training junior Marines on methods
and procedures they must know as basic air traffic controllers.
“I joined the Marine Corps to deploy and help as many people as I
can,” said McDaniel. “I have not yet had the opportunity to deploy, but I have
been given the opportunity to assist many Marines with their training and
during times of distress.”
According to Cruz, McDaniel has aided pilots in landing in both
inclement weather conditions and during equipment failure. On Dec. 3 he was
awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his quick and precise
problem solving skills that led to the safe landing of the AV-8B Harrier that
had experienced navigational equipment failure on Dec. 1.
“Cpl. McDaniel took on the responsibility in a calm, but precise
manner,” said Cruz. “His relaxed tone while handling the situation helped the
pilot make calm and logical decisions without panicking and diverting from
protocol. The pilot had experienced a blackout of his navigational equipment
under low visibility and relied on McDaniel’s turn-by-turn directions to guide
him directly over the runway to a safe landing.”
If an air traffic control Marine fails, potentially hundreds of
lives could be on the line. Confidence in the extensive training the Marines
receive and the dedication to their practice are traits McDaniel has maintained
and shared with his fellow Marines, said Cruz.
“The Marine Corps has allowed me to give back to others and live
up to the beliefs I carry,” explained McDaniel. “My grandfather taught me to
never be afraid to give the shirt off my back to someone and walk away. He is
the biggest role model in my life and I carry his teachings with me in what I
do both in and out of the Marine Corps.”
As McDaniel’s active duty service comes to an end later this year,
he has applied to continue assisting U.S. military and civilian air crews as a
contracted civilian air traffic controller. His uniform may change, but
McDaniel will still be one of the calm voices local aviators rely on when they
need a guiding hand.