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Controller Profiles: Leslie Warfield
What made you decide to become an air traffic controller? A test I took in the military determined I was best qualified for a job as an air traffic controller or a linguist, and a career in aviation perked my interest more. My uncle was a controller in the Navy, which also sparked some interest. How did you become an air traffic controller? I was stationed in New Orleans for a four-year tour in the military. Three years into the tour, I started the paperwork and went to Oklahoma City for school a year later. Describe a typical day. Our airport gets busy between 7 and 8 a.m. It's a hub airport so it's hectic for a short period followed by a bit of a lull before it picks up again. What's the best part of your job? I think the best part is that I don't do the same thing every day. And where it may take weeks or months to see results in other professions, you can see your hard work make a difference right away in air traffic control. What's the worst part of your job? No matter how experienced you become in this profession, it is always in the back of your mind, especially during busy periods, that you could make a mistake that could harm people. The consequences of our actions are very real. What's unique about the facility where you work? I think our airport is designed very well. The runways run around the airport with the gates in the middle. This way we can move more airplanes in a safe and efficient manner. Why do you prefer working in your type of facility (tower, TRACON or center)? I like looking at airplanes rather than blips on a radar. I think an effective airport design makes all the difference in the world and the tower at Dulles is a nice place to work. What are three important characteristics that you believe a controller needs? 1. Ability to focus 2. A great memory (both short-term and long-term) 3. The ability to project and see what's going to happen before it does. You need the ability to think outside the box. What's the most challenging situation you've ever had to handle? I think going back to work (in New York at the time) after 9/11. Working airplanes after they were used as weapons against not only the country, but us as controllers, was particularly difficult. Where do you go from here? Where do you see yourself in the future? I can't retire until 2017, but after that, who knows? Depending on the situation, I think I would like to help design and modernize air traffic control equipment. The good thing about this is job is it truly never gets old. Main Menu |
