1

Fairbanks ATCT Facility Orientation Guide

2

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.

3

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

4

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.

5

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

6

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-

7

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

8

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.

9

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

10

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

11

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

12

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)

13

For North Pole:

1. Pagoda www.pagodanorthpole.com 2. Benny’s Grill (no website available)

14

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

15

Photos of the Airport

Here is a selection of photos of runways,

airplanes and a main airport terminal of

Fairbanks Airport.

16

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

17

– END –