Arizona District Phoenix ATCT and Phoenix TRACON

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Welcome Letter 3

Phoenix ATCT and Phoenix TRACON Today 4

Arizona District, Phoenix ATCT and Phoenix TRACON Organizational Chart 5

Arizona District, Phoenix ATCT and Phoenix TRACON Leadership Teams 6

Our Expectations of All Employees 9

On Your First Day 10

Local Area Information 12

Sporting and Special Events 14

Restaurants of Note 16

On Line Resources 18

Phoenix ATCT/TRACON and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Area Map 20

Phoenix ATCT and Phoenix TRACON Directory 22

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Welcome Letter

Dear New Employee,

Welcome to Phoenix Airport Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) and Terminal Radar

Approach Control (TRACON)! Here you will have an opportunity to work with an

outstanding team of professionals that help make us a great place to work and develop

your skills. Your knowledge, abilities and positive attitude made 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,

Phillip D. Thornton

Manager, Arizona District

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Phoenix ATCT and Phoenix TRACON Today

The new, state-of-the-art Phoenix ATCT (PHX) and Phoenix TRACON (P50) were

completed in 2007. The tower is 312 feet high. STARS, the TRACON’s newest

system, can track as many as 1,150 airborne aircraft simultaneously.

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is currently the nation’s 8th

busiest airport

and one of the fastest growing airports in the United States. Southwest Airlines and

US Airways are the largest users and comprise 80 percent of the operations at

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

The new cab boasts 880 square feet, allowing for adequate elbow room.

The TRACON is located in a 47,000 square-foot, three-story building at the base of

the tower and can accommodate more than 20 positions with additional room to grow.

Currently Phoenix airspace comprises

approximately a forty-mile radius from

Phoenix Sky Harbor up to an altitude of

21,000 feet mean sea level (MSL). This

airspace includes two of the top 50

busiest general aviation airports in the

country. They are Deer Valley Airport,

which is ranked 17th

, and Falcon Field,

which is ranked 47th

overall. Arizona

District also contains the top two busiest

Federal Contract Towers (FCTs) in the

nation. Phoenix-Mesa-Gateway Airport is ranked first and Chandler Airport comes in

as second.

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Arizona District, Phoenix ATCT and TRACON Organizational

Chart

The following organizational chart depicts the structure of Arizona District and the

Phoenix ATCT and Phoenix TRACON Management Team.

Arizona

District Manager Phillip Thornton

DVT ATCT Air Traffic Manager

Toby Jones

FFZ ATCT Air Traffic Manager

Harold Sharp

PHX ATCT Air Traffic Manager

Robert Whitworth

PRC ATCT Air Traffic Manager

Paul Winski

P50 TRACON Air Traffic Manager

Phillip Thornton

SDL ATCT Air Traffic Manager

Robert Voss

TUS ATCT Air Traffic Manager

Debra Collins

Systems Operations Traffic Management

Officer Eric Fox

P50 Traffic Management

Unit

PHX Traffic Management

Unit

P50 Staff Manager Philip Freed

Support Manager Safety Assurance

Kent Peterson

Support Manager Planning and Requirements

John Gilding

Support Manager Training

Roger Mandeville

Support Manager Operations Support

Curt Faulk

Support Specialists Gerard Gallagher

David Miller QA Technicians

Leemay Wu

Support Specialist Bob Schimelpfening

WCG Contract Training

Support Specialists Keith Henry

Dan Cunningham Curtis Strickland

PHX ATCT Operations Manager

James McMahon

PHX ATCT Front Line Managers

Air Traffic Control

Specialists

U90 TRACON Air Traffic Manager

Arthur Blank

FCTs CHD, FLG, GEU, GYR, IWA, RYN

P50 TRACON Operations Managers

Joseph Cerrito Eugene Riley

P50 TRACON Front Line Managers

Air Traffic Control

Specialists

Administrative Services

Administrative Officer

Nancy Ellis

Business Services Administrative

Officer Polly Phillips

Management & Program Assistant

Heather Lindsay

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Arizona District, Phoenix ATCT and Phoenix TRACON

Leadership Teams

Phillip D. Thornton and Philip C. Freed head the Phoenix TRACON Leadership

Team. Robert H. Whitworth, Jr., is the Manager for Phoenix ATCT. Below are their

bios that outline career paths of these distinguished individuals and briefly describe

their personal interests and hobbies.

Phillip D. Thornton, Air Traffic

Manager, Phoenix TRACON, and

Manager, Arizona District

Phil Thornton joined the United States

Air Force in 1979 and served four years

as an air traffic controller. He was

hired by the FAA in 1983 as an air

traffic controller in Tucson, Arizona.

His career has included the following

positions: Air traffic controller at

Tucson ATCT/TRACON, Dallas-Fort

Worth ATCT, Dallas-Fort Worth TRACON, and Phoenix TRACON. Phil served as a

staff specialist and operations supervisor at Phoenix TRACON and was the

operations manager for Phoenix ATCT and TRACON. He completed two one-year

details to FAA Headquarters and has been the assistant air traffic manager at Santa

Barbara ATCT/TRACON and Phoenix TRACON. Phil also held the position of air

traffic manager at Falcon ATCT and is currently the air traffic manager for Phoenix

TRACON and the Arizona district manager.

Phil loves sports and his hobbies include scuba diving and golf. He enjoys traveling,

reading and visiting museums and historical landmarks. One of his most memorable

experiences was diving the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

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Philip C. Freed, Staff Manager, Phoenix TRACON

Phil was born in the small suburban

Philadelphia town of Sellersville,

Pennsylvania. He has always had a love

of aviation and received his private

pilot’s license at age 16. Phil pursued a

career in aviation after high school and

joined the FAA in 1982 as an air traffic

controller in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Phil has held various air traffic controller

and staff positions. He worked as

controller and traffic management

coordinator at Philadelphia International Airport. Here at Phoenix TRACON, he has

worked as an air traffic controller, operations supervisor, and operations manager.

Phil also served a one-year detail at FAA Headquarters as a specialist in Workforce

Services, Labor Relations.

He describes his personality as friendly, outgoing and optimistic. Phil enjoys travel,

politics, sports, and spending time with his family. He has been married to his wife

Melanie for 26 years and has three grown sons.

Robert H. Whitworth, Jr., Air Traffic Manager, Phoenix ATCT

Bob hails from what is alternately known as the

Constitution State, the Nutmeg State, or the Land of

Steady Habits, i.e., Connecticut. In 1976, Bob joined the

United States Air Force and became an air traffic

controller stationed at Carswell Air Force Base, Fort

Worth, Texas. After his four-year stint in the military,

Bob worked on his undergraduate studies, and then joined

the FAA. Bob was a controller at New Haven Tower and

New York TRACON, operations supervisor at Bridgeport

Tower, and Air Traffic Manager at Caldwell, Morristown,

and Teterboro Towers. Bob also served three years as

Branch Manager of the Eastern Quality Assurance Staff,

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and has held several regional office positions. He holds a Masters in Public

Administration.

Bob enjoys travel, film, antiques, classic cars, and architecture. On that last point,

he’ll bend your ear about the great Frank Lloyd Wright, whose works can be found in

the greater Phoenix area.

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Our Expectations of All Employees

Arizona District, the Phoenix ATCT and Phoenix TRACON leadership teams expect

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

• Ask for help when you need it

• Be human, don’t be afraid to make or admit your mistakes

• And most important – Have Fun!

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On Your First Day

Reporting for Duty

You should report for duty on your first day of work at 7:00 a.m.

Hours of Duty

You can expect to be assigned an eight and one-half hour administrative shift

(normally from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) for your first few weeks at the facility.

Parking

Employee parking is on the east side of the TRACON building within the fenced

property.

Security and Building Access

On your first day of work, please bring photo identification with you (driver’s

license). You will have to obtain a temporary facility access pass at the guard gate

prior to entry to the facility property. This pass must be displayed at all times while

at the facility and renewed each day until you receive your permanent FAA ID card.

If you are a current FAA employee and retained your ID card from your previous

assignment, it will suffice for entrance to the facility.

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Other Documents

You will need the following documents on your first day of work.

� Driver’s license, automobile registration, and proof of insurance for vehicle

decal

� If you are a new government employee, you will need to furnish the

stipulated documents on the Form I-9 you received with your employment

packet

� If you are a veteran and new to government service, please bring a copy of

your DD214 to help Human Resource Management establish your service

computation date and leave accrual rate

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Local Area Information

Phoenix Metropolitan

Area Profile

Just as Phoenix is the “hub”

of commercial activity in

the Southwest, it is also the

core around which twenty-

plus communities have

grown. Collectively they

are known as the “Valley of

the Sun” and they cover a

small part of the sprawling

9,127 square miles in Maricopa County.

Some Valley cities are well known to those outside Arizona: Scottsdale, as the resort

destination of choice for discriminating sun and recreation worshippers; Tempe, as

the site of Arizona State University; Paradise Valley, as a residential town as idyllic

as the name implies; and Sun City, as home to active retirees.

No matter what your interests, newcomers find a community

waiting to welcome you. Two communities with burgeoning

populations that deserve a close look are Mesa and Glendale,

the state’s third and fourth largest cities after Phoenix and

Tucson. Chandler and Gilbert (to the southeast) are becoming

well known as magnets for both young families and high-tech

manufacturing firms.

Fountain Hills, located above the Valley to the northeast in the

McDowell Mountains, is fifteen minutes from the nearest city

and prized for its solitude. The sister communities of Cave Creek and Carefree to the

north comprise another secluded area, with rustic ranch spreads and million-dollar

adobe homes inspired by Hohokam designs.

The West Valley communities of Peoria, Avondale, Tolleson and Litchfield Park

offer family-oriented lifestyles and affordable housing. The outlying farming

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communities of Goodyear, Buckeye and Surprise are rapidly mirroring the expansion

of the closer-in West Valley communities.

Two primary reasons people live in the Valley of the Sun are warm weather and

weekends. Shining brightly more than 300 days each year, the sun does much more

than generate a good tan. Nine months out of the year, Valley residents enjoy

pleasant, spring-like temperatures. It’s rare to have a golf game rained out. The

summer is a different story. It’s hot here, no two ways about it. Temperatures often

break 100 degrees during June through September. However over-used, the common

defense, “But it’s a dry heat,” is true. Humidity is almost nonexistent here until

August, when the monsoons drop sheets of welcome rain and replenish the water

table. These evening thunderstorms, with their dramatic lightning displays, are

almost an attraction in themselves. The average annual rainfall is only 7.66”.

The sun has shaped the Valley’s active, outdoor lifestyle, allowing people to pursue

their recreational passions almost any time of the year. There are over 1,000 tennis

courts and over 250 golf courses. To illustrate the diversity of the Arizona landscape,

consider the fact that Phoenix boasts the highest per capita boat ownership in the

nation and that major snow-skiing facilities are within several hours drive. A series

of mountain ranges encircle the Valley, creating a recreational mecca for hikers and

campers. Maricopa County’s

diverse regional parks offer

everything from a popular shooting

range to a wave pool with water

slides. The Valley’s backyard

peaks – Camelback Mountain,

Piestewa Peak and Papago Park –

are favored by those who like to

have fun close to home.

Horseback riders, hikers, bicyclists

and picnickers flock to South

Mountain Park, which, at 16,500

acres, is the largest municipal park

in the world.

Education has a high priority in the Metro Phoenix area. There are innovative special

programs in the public schools, fine private schools and an extensive college system.

In addition, vocational training is geared toward the actual needs of employers in the

area.

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Attractions Abound in Phoenix

Opportunities abound in the Valley of the Sun for cultural and shopping enjoyment.

The Heard Museum is known for its Native

American culture and art exhibits and the

Phoenix Art Museum’s permanent

collection contains over 13,000 art works.

Pueblo Grande Museum, the Scottsdale

Center for the Arts, the Rosson House, the

Arizona Science Center and the Hall of

Flame Firefighting Museum also house

interesting exhibits.

And, there’s more! Discover the desert at the Desert Botanical Garden, visit the

Phoenix Zoo, explore the environment at Biosphere 2 or tour Frank Lloyd Wright’s

Taliesin West – all these plus many more attractions will provide hours of fun.

Sporting and Special Events

Whether you are a participant or spectator, the Valley of the Sun offers a tremendous

variety of activities. With year-

round mild temperatures, the

outdoors has become a way of

life.

The NFL Arizona Cardinals

began the 2006 football season

in their new home, the 67,000

seat University of Phoenix

Stadium in Glendale. All Fiesta

Bowl games (one of the Bowl

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Championship Series games) are also played at the stadium in Glendale. The

University of Phoenix Stadium was also chosen as the site of Super Bowl XLII in

February 2008, and it hosts many other events and concerts.

Major League Baseball became a reality with the Arizona Diamondbacks which

began play in 1998 in Chase Field and won the World Series in the fall of 2001.

Springtime brings several MLB teams for the Cactus League baseball training season,

including Kansas City Royals, Texas Rangers, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners,

Milwaukee Brewers, San Francisco Giants, Oakland A’s, Chicago Cubs, and the LA

Angels of Anaheim.

The US Airways Center in downtown Phoenix is the home of the Phoenix Suns’

NBA team. Part of the WNBA, the Phoenix Mercury, play from the end of June

through August. Arizona State University’s Sun Devils basketball team is a member

of the Pacific 10 Conference.

Phoenix International Raceway is home to such events as an Indy Car Race and two

NASCAR Winston Cup races.

In golf, Scottsdale is the home of the FBR Open, and the infamous 16th

hole, at the

Tournament Players Club adjacent to the Scottsdale Princess Resort.

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Restaurants of Note

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse, 905 N. 54th St., Chandler, 480-940-1900

www.flemingssteakhouse.com

Offering an alternative to the cattleman’s club atmosphere at most steakhouses,

Fleming’s is designed as a couples and family-friendly destination. The menu

features USDA prime beef, hand-cut daily on site into steaks.

Salt Cellar – 550 N.

Hayden Rd., Scottsdale,

480-947-1963

The dining adventure lies at

the bottom of a winding

stairway to a subtly lit bar,

dining room and kitchen.

The place is comfy, funky,

fun, spotlessly clean, and

has some of the finest, most

reasonably priced seafood

in the Valley.

Bobby Q, 8501 N. 27th

Ave., Phoenix,

602-995-5982

www.bobbyq.net

Weathered brick walls and corrugated metal siding give the place a rustic, Wild West

feel, with vintage signs and rusted eating utensil sconces as part of the décor. Hearty

baby back ribs, smoked sausage and beef brisket are the house specialties, served

with cowpoke sides such as shoestring fries and coleslaw.

PF Chang’s China Bistro, 16170 N. 83rd Ave., Peoria, 623-412-3335

www.pfchangs.com

Although “elegant is rarely a word used in describe chain restaurants, P. F. Chang’s

hits the bull’s-eye. Gracious, inviting and innovative, P. F. Chang’s is a Best Chinese

Restaurant Award Winner.

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Buca di Beppo, 3828 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, 480-949-6622

www.bucadibeppo.com

Bigger is better at Buca di Beppo. It is known for its overflowing platters of Italian

standards served in a boisterous atmosphere. Small Caesar salads serve four, and

heaping bowls of pasta are smothered in marinara and three-pound (no kidding)

meatballs.

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Online Resources

Local Area Resources

www.ci.phoenix.az.us

Community Volunteering

www.cir.org

Chamber of Commerce

www.phoenixchamber.com

Housing and Relocating Assistance

www.city-data.com/city/Phoenix-Arizona.html

Local News

www.usnpl.com/aznews.php

Phoenix Metropolitan Area Schools

www.phoenix.gov/EDUCATN/schdist.html

Arizona Colleges and Universities

www.u101.com/colleges/Arizona/

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Local Sports Teams

Baseball: MLB Arizona Diamondbacks www.arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com

Basketball: NBA Phoenix Suns www.nba.com/suns/ ;

WNBA Phoenix Mercury www.wnba.com/mercury/

Football: NFL Arizona Cardinals www.azcardinals.com

Hockey: NHL Phoenix Coyotes www.coyotes.nhl.com

Soccer: Arizona Sahuaros www.azsahuaros.com

Sports Leagues

Baseball League: Springtime brings several MLB teams for the Cactus League

baseball training season. www.cactusleague.com

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Phoenix ATCT/TRACON and Phoenix Sky Harbor

International Airport Area Map

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Photos of the Airport

Below is a photo of runways, facilities and main airport terminals of

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

2:

Phoenix Skyline from Sky Harbor Airport

1: Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Aerial Map

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Phoenix ATCT and Phoenix TRACON Directory

The following list provides the most commonly used phone numbers within the

Phoenix ATCT/TRACON facility:

>> Front Desk in Air Traffic Administration

>> TRACON Manager’s Office

>> Tower Manager’s Office

>> Facility Fax

(602) 306-2524

(602) 306-2501

(602) 306-2502

(602) 220-1716

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Completing This Document

ATO facilities may complete their own Facility Guides using this sample as a guide.

By creating and completing this document, you are helping your employees by

providing them with a central resource for information and welcoming them to the

community. You are also helping the ATO to ensure that your new employees will

have the skills, knowledge and attitude to succeed in today’s workplace.

Sharing Your Knowledge

Once you complete the guide, you may consider posting the document on the ATO

Experience website. Fully developed and completed facility guides may be sent to

Colleen Janus, Transition Team, Change Management at Colleen.Janus@faa.gov in

an electronic format. Colleen will then coordinate with other ATO offices to ensure

that the best examples are posted on the ATO website. This will allow us to share the

best practices across facilities, showcase some of the work and help other facilities in

developing their own customized guides.

We sincerely thank you for your time and efforts in compiling the necessary

resources for your new employees and taking an active part in the ATO Facility

New Hire Initiative.

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