All of those lives and all of that cargo are in the hands of AC2 Jonathon Lytton. His job is demanding. There's no room for error. With Norfolk International Airport just a few miles away, Oceana Naval Air Station to the south, Langley Air Force Base to the north and several other smaller airports scattered around the Hampton Roads area, the airspace is extremely tight. Precise coordination is key.
Communication is constant.
We ring that line and they pick up. He said it's monitored around the clock. Lytton must be proficient in all areas of air traffic control, from base operations to radar to working in the control tower. He works two dayshifts, two evening shifts and then has two days off. Since first beginning his job in September 1998, he's become qualified in every position, including as a supervisor.