fairbanks atct facility orientation guide · employee parking is available at the base of the tower...
TRANSCRIPT
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Fairbanks ATCT Facility Orientation Guide
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Welcome Letter 3
Fairbanks ATCT Today 4
Fairbanks Tower Leadership Team 6
Our Expectations of All Employees 7
Policies 8
First Things First: How Cold and Dark is Cold and Dark? 9
What Else Is There To Do In Fairbanks? 10
Online Resources 11
Local Fine Dining Restaurants 12
Fairbanks ATCT and Airport Area Map 14
Fairbanks Tower Directory 16
Welcome to the Fairbanks Air Traffic Control Tower. We hope this document provides some valuable information to you. Please feel free to utilize any of the phone numbers listed in the Fairbanks Tower Directory if you have any questions or needs relating to your future employment at the FAI ATCT.
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Welcome Letter
Dear New Employee,
Welcome to Fairbanks Tower & Tracon! Here you will have an opportunity
to work with an outstanding team of professionals that help make our facility
a great place to work and develop your skills. Your knowledge, abilities and
positive attitude make you a highly regarded addition to our team, and I am
certain that you will make a positive impact on our future.
All of us want to make your tenure at this facility as enjoyable and
rewarding as possible. Please feel free to ask any questions and express your
thoughts and ideas to the staff and senior leadership. Our aim is to create an
informal atmosphere and involve everyone in the process of making our
facility an exceptional place to work.
I look forward to working with you, and would like to welcome you again to
our team!
Sincerely,
Hal Hewett
Air Traffic Manager
FAI ATCT
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Fairbanks ATCT Today
Fairbanks is a very unique duty station and has a mix of traffic
somewhat unique to the sub-arctic environment in which we live and work.
Fairbanks International Airport is the central transportation hub of
Alaska; a number of native villages that are not on the road system rely upon
flights from Fairbanks for groceries, heating fuel, building supplies, and all
other commercial products. We also serve as a stop for refueling and
diversions.
Our traffic consists of a wide variety of general aviation aircraft,
including ski and float-equipped aircraft, commercial traffic serving many
locations around Alaska, corporate and cargo aircraft en route from Europe
and Asia, as well as military traffic from Fort Wainwright and Eielson Air
Force Base, also located nearby. The wide scope of operations encountered
here on a daily basis makes Fairbanks a challenging and rewarding place to
work.
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Fairbanks Tower & Tracon Organizational Chart
The following organizational chart depicts the structure of the Fairbanks
Tower & Tracon Management Team.
Kent Wheeler ANC District Manager
Scotty Auton Merril Tower
Manager
Hal Hewett Fairbanks Tower/Tracon
Manager
Steve Turner Juneau Tower
Manager
Rickey Starr Jr. Front Line Manager
Steve Proctor Staff Support Specialist
Don Schrader Front Line Manager
Jessica Harper Administrative Assistant
Laurie Smith Administrative Assistant
Controllers
Controllers
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Fairbanks Tower Leadership Team
Hal Hewett, Air Traffic Manager-
Don Schrader, Front Line Manager-
Rickey Starr Jr; Front Line Manager-
Steve Proctor, Staff Support Specialist-
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Our Expectations of All Employees
Fairbanks Tower leadership team expects all employees to:
• Come to work, be on time
• Be prepared – mentally and physically
• Understand leave policy and manage your leave appropriately
• Be cooperative and professional
• Treat people with respect and dignity
• Take initiative
• Be accountable
• Lead by example – be a good role model
• Do not tolerate or engage in any form of harassment or discrimination
• Actively participate in training
• Know your airspace and systems, know your equipment
• Use prescribed phraseology/correct facility and equipment names
• Follow rules and procedures
• Be open to feedback – provide honest information
• Be an effective team member
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Policies
Hours of Duty
Upon receipt of your firm offer letter, contact the Air Traffic Manager to coordinate your
reporting date.
The watch schedule is posted 28 days in advance. In the event that you are going to be
late for your shift, or unable to report for your shift, it is your responsibility to call the
supervisor (or shift CIC) as soon as possible to inform him or her of your whereabouts.
Parking
Employee parking is available at the base of the tower cab. All parking spaces are
equipped with an outlet so that you may plug your car in during cold weather.
FAA ID Cards
Upon your arrival to the facility, if you do not have a valid FAA ID card, one will be
issued to you. At that time, you will also be issued a proximity card which will allow you
appropriate access to and within the facility.
Guests and Visitors
All guests or visitors must be pre-approved by management.
Cell Phones and Personal Calls
Cell phones are permitted in the operations area, but they must be turned off. Except for
emergencies, personnel shall not take or make personal calls while on position. The
telephone in the break room is for personal calls.
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First Things First: How Cold and Dark is Cold and Dark?
Fairbanks has a sub-arctic climate. Winter and summer are the prevailing seasons.
Autumn seems to last longer than spring, because of the brilliantly colored leaves, warm
afternoons, and chilly evenings. Spring is over once the snow is gone and the trees have
leafed out, which seems to take about a week.
Our winters are long, lasting from late October to late April. Typical winter
temperatures range from 10F to -20F, but -40F is certainly not unheard of. At winter
solstice, the sun is up for 3 hours and 42 minutes with 5 hours and 33 minutes of usable
daylight. Interior Alaska has a very dry climate, with little wind and plenty of clear,
sunny days. Our snow is light and powdery, which makes for excellent skiing
conditions. Cross-country skiing, skijouring, and dog-mushing are all popular sports, and
there are a few good places nearby for downhill skiing and snowboarding. With the right
gear, people get outside for recreation on all but the very coldest days. Various
organizations and clubs maintain several trail systems that are well suited to a variety of
winter sports, from skiing to snow-machining.
April is Breakup. During the day, the snow melts into a persistent muck that can
easily be ankle deep in some places, and then at night it refreezes into a skating rink. The
streets, sidewalks, and parking lots will still be slick. Additionally, there is always a
possibility of a last-minute snowfall that time of year. However, it doesn’t last too long
and our short, but glorious summer begins.
After the winter, most Fairbanksans are ready to get outside. The summers are
usually warm and dry with afternoon temperatures reaching into the 80s and sometimes
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into the 90s, and cooling off at night. At summer solstice, the sun is up for 21 hours and
49 minutes, with 24 hours of usable daylight. The same trail systems that are used in the
winter are popular in the summer for hiking and biking, and several lakes and rivers
nearby make camping, fishing, and boating popular activities. Additionally, due to the
intensity of the growing season, many people are able to grow amazing gardens. If you
don’t garden, you can still enjoy the wildflowers and trees growing rampant even along
city roads and you can also take advantage of several farmers’ markets that are open
during the summer. By mid-to-late August, autumn begins to set in. September is many people’s favorite
time of year here: it’s less likely to rain, the days are still long, and the leaves are beautiful. Days
can still reach the high 60s – mid 70s, but the nights gradually begin to drop toward freezing
temperatures. I f you haven’t done so already, now is the time to winterize your car, because
winter will be here again before you know it. It is also hunting season in Alaska, which means a
very busy time of year for Fairbanks ATCT due to the number of people who hunt in locations
that are not accessible via road.
What Else Is There To Do In Fairbanks?
For the size of our community, we offer a high number of options for recreation and
entertainment beyond the variety of outdoor activities available to us.
Between the University of Alaska Fairbanks, community organizations and a variety of
bars, restaurants, and coffee shops, it is entirely possible to see some kind of live entertainment
every day, year-round. The quality of the performances in some cases is truly outstanding.
Additionally, there are a handful of live music festivals sprawled across Interior Alaska, from
early summer through late fall.
UAF Nanook basketball and hockey games are popular sporting events. It’s fun to catch
a semi-pro Fairbanks Goldpanners baseball game on one of our warm summer evenings and
going to their Midnight Sun game is an annual summer solstice tradition for many people. There
are also a variety of casual sports leagues, from curling to softball that are always looking for
players.
Fairbanks has one movie theater that plays first-run movies, but there are two other
theaters in town that show second-run and older movies. We also have a variety of restaurants,
from fast-food franchises to mid-priced restaurants serving a wide variety of cuisines to fine
dining establishments. Although our selection may not be as impressive as that of a larger town,
most people
Shopping is adequate but limited. Although the Fairbanks North Star Borough has no
sales tax at this time, almost anything you purchase tends to be expensive. It may be wise for you
to do some research and purchase the winter clothing you will need before you come up. Many
people opt to do much of their shopping online or when they go “Outside.” Perhaps due in part to
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the limited options we have for shopping, Fairbanks is a much more casual town than many
places in the Lower 48. Although the dress code at work is the same as it would be in any other
facility, in most other places around Fairbanks, “dressing up” means showing up in clean jeans.
Online Resources
Chamber of Commerce
http://www.fairbankschamber.org/
This website is a great jumping-off point for learning about Fairbanks and Interior
Alaska. It provides a wealth of links to articles and photographs of various attractions,
amenities, and services.
Housing and Relocating Assistance
The Greater Fairbanks Board of Realtors P: (907) 452-7743 / F: (907) 452-7746
www.gfbr.org
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner www.newsminer.com
Alaska Craigslist (Be sure to narrow your search for Fairbanks.) www.craigslist.org
Local News
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner www.newsminer.com
Education
Fairbanks North Star Borough School District 520 5th Avenue, Fairbanks AK 99701
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P: (907) 452-2000 / F: (907) 451-0541
www.northstar.k12.ak.us
University of Alaska Fairbanks / Tanana Valley Campus
The University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) was created in 1917 by a special act of the
Alaska Territorial Legislature. With this, plus a land grant from the U.S. Congress, the
Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines opened in 1922 with six faculty
members and six students. Today, UAF is a Land, Sea and Space Grant University. TVC
offers a variety of technical and certification programs, as well as community educational
opportunities.
www.uaf.edu
Medical Facilities
Fairbanks Memorial Hospital is a JCAHO accredited facility with 152 licensed beds. An
Imaging Center and Cardiology Clinic have been added as well as a recently expanded
Emergency Department to meet the needs of our community. FMH is co-located with the
Denali Center, an extended care facility. We have many medical clinics providing the
highest possible standard of comprehensive medical, holistic, and surgical care. Social
and mental health care are also provided by many non-profit organizations throughout the
Fairbanks North Star Borough.
http://www.bannerhealth.com/Locations/Alaska/Fairbanks+Memorial+Hospital/_FMH_
DC_Home.htm
Local Fine Dining Restaurants
For Fairbanks & surrounding areas:
1. The Chena Pump House www.pumphouse.com 2. Lavelles Wine & Bistro www.lavellesbistro.com 3. The Turtle Club www.alaskanturtle.com 4. The Silver Gulch Brewery www.silvergulch.com 5. Zach’s Restaurant at Sophie www.fountainheadhotels.com
6. Gambardella’s Pasta Bella www.gambardellas.com
7. The Vallata (no website available)
8. Bobbys (no website available)
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For North Pole:
1. Pagoda www.pagodanorthpole.com 2. Benny’s Grill (no website available)
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Fairbanks ATCT and Airport Area Map
The map below locates Fairbanks Airport within its immediate surroundings. The
location of Fairbanks Tower is pointed out by a callout box.
Fairbanks Tower & Tracon
3800 University Ave S
Fairbanks AK 99709
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Photos of the Airport
Here is a selection of photos of runways,
airplanes and a main airport terminal of
Fairbanks Airport.
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Fairbanks Tower Directory
The following list provides the most commonly used phone numbers within the Fairbanks Tower facility: Facility Main Number 907-474-0050 Facility Night & Weekend (TRACON) 907-474-0452 Facility Fax 907-479-4650
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