Yuma Control Tower Tour

CAP Squadron 508 senior and cadet members tour the Yuma control tower facility

 

MCAS Yuma Control Tower

Four cadets and four senior members from CAP Squadron 508 were treated to a guided tour of the approach control and control tower buildings at the MCAS Yuma airport. Our tour started in the approach control facility. This is where high and low controllers guide aircraft ranging from the smallest experimental types to commercial jet and military traffic into MCAS Yuma airspace. We were introduced to the function of the radar scopes and their flexibility in dealing with various aircraft operations. The training of new controllers and supervision of the various air traffic control stations was explained. We saw how controllers use aircraft clearance strips to maintain their situational awareness and help separate air traffic in the Yuma airspace. Surprisingly, even in this day of computerization, these strips are still vital tools used to help control participating VFR and IFR traffic. A special treat was the demonstration of the Precision Approach Radar (PAR.) After this visit, several of the pilots in attendance will no doubt go out and request a PAR approach to exercise their aircraft control abilities and to provide practice for the controllers who may be asked for a PAR approach at any time. Finally, we learned a lot about the importance of communication and coordination among the various air traffic control facilities in our vicinity, including SoCal Approach, Los Angeles Center, and Albuquerque Center. But there was more to our tour.

We took a short walkway to the west to enter the Yuma control tower. One cadet considered running up the stairwell but the rest of us were happy that an elevator took us most of the way up the tower that is over 150 feet high. Near the top a narrow stairway led to the upper level where the local controllers work. A panoramic vista opened up to us as we climbed the final steps. The layout of the work space was similar to the radar facility. Sitting in the center of the hub was the supervisor. Various positions were placed around the perimeter including ground control, tower, and liaison controllers who coordinate with the radar controllers in the nearby building. We were cautioned to avoid distracting controllers who were working in what was a frankly crowded space. Outside, on the catwalk, we discovered who among us had fear of heights. It takes a while to get used to this unusual perspective. The view on this startlingly clear day was magnificent. A Kestrel falcon cruised by to put an exclamation point on our visit. It turns out that a tower tour is a memorable event.

We would like to extend our gratitude to the military staff and tower personnel who contributed to such a great event for our cadets and senior members.