Ali Thamer (center), Baghdad International Airport tower manager, observes fully qualified and licensed Iraqi air traffic controllers manage traffic in the airspace Oct. 14. Air traffic control operations were conducted by Iraqis and U.S. Airmen assigned to the 447th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron at Sather Air Base, while more Iraqis trained with the Washington Consulting Group, an American contracted company. Airmen were able to fully turn over air traffic control duties to the Iraqis as of Oct.1.