An Cosantóir

32 alongside our civil counterparts in ensuring the safety and efficiency of civil & military air operations. The ATC service provided is also somewhat unique in that its wartime function is pretty much identical to its peacetime function, to provide an ATC service with- in Military airspace that will enable pilots of military aircraft to conduct their flights safely with tactical freedom. The Air Traffic Control tower is located airside on the far side of the ramp away from the rest of the camp. A visitor to Baldonnel once referred to the area as "an Island", which I think was quite an apt description. The community on our little Island is made up of the ATC Staff from 505 Sqn, the Crash Rescue Services from 506 Sqn, the Met Eireann Station Staff and the Bird Control Unit staff. In 2019 (pre COVID19 Figures) over 620,000 flights passed through Irish controlled airspace. Most were civil aircraft flying from A to B with passengers and cargo. Some, however, were military aircraft flying from very often from A and back to A because in military aviation it is not the destination that is important but the journey or more importantly the mission carried out on that journey. Military controllers must control Since the formation of the Air Corps, Military Air Traffic Services (ATS) has evolved to match the demands of the changing national and global aviation and security environment. In the early days a duty officer, placed a landing 'T' and wind vane out on an airfield. They had no laid down runways to indicate the direction to be used for take-off and landing.Nowadays Military ATS is recognised as a strategic asset which ensures co tingent air connectivity for the state. We use modern radar, data-link and flight processing systems to ensure military aircraft have freedom to operate. Military ATS comprises of two elements, Air Corps HQ ATS and 505 (ATC) Sqn, in a specialised stream within the Air Corps. Operating from the Control Tower in Casement Aerodrome and from a Military Radar position located at the Dublin ATC centre, we work Baldonnel Tower on a spectacular evening sunset. Credit C. Healsip Keeping track of all the aircraft movements in the ATC logbook. Credit L. Metcalfe Capt. Warren Downey, 505 Sqn serving overseas in KFOR in March 2022 Neil from the Bird Control Unit keeping an eye on things! MILITARY AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL By Comdt. Geraldine Browne, OC 505 Squadron MILITARY AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL

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