Photo courtesy of ROA CPC Kurt Konrad

Roanoke (ROA) Air Traffic Control Tower

Welcome Letter

Date

Roanoke ATCT

5354 Aviation Drive

Roanoke, VA 24012

Dear New Employee:

Welcome to Roanoke Tower! Here you will have an opportunity to work with an outstanding team of

professionals that help make this a great place to work. 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 management. 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! Your reporting

date is Reporting Date. If you need additional time for move related activities, please contact me as

soon as possible at 540-265-2280.

Sincerely,

John M. Broderick

Air Traffic Manager, Roanoke ATCT

Roanoke, Virginia

Roanoke (pronounced roh-uh-noke) is an independent city that runs through the Shenandoah Valley

region of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The city of Roanoke is adjacent to the city of Salem and the

town of Vinton and is otherwise surrounded by, but politically separate from, Roanoke County. As of

the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 94,911. The U.S. Census Bureau includes in the

Roanoke metropolitan area the counties of Botetourt and Franklin.

History of Roanoke: Exploration into the Roanoke Valley dates back to the 17th century. The first

village in the area was established in 1834 as Gainesborough and became the City of Roanoke in 1881.

Roanoke was derived from the Native American word Rawrenock, a name for the shell beads worn by

Native Americans and used as trade goods. Today the Roanoke Valley is made up of the City of

Roanoke, county of Roanoke, the Town of Vinton and City of Salem.

Weather: Overall, the temperatures in Roanoke are rather mild and pleasant for each season

respectively. Aside from a few days out of the year, we usually don’t freeze too much, or suffer too

much from the heat. This is not to say Roanoker’s are immune from a few unbearably hot August

afternoons, nor some icy filled mornings in late January or February. But, by and large things are

rather calm in the weather department.

The Roanoke Valley, with its mountain beauty, historic heritage and southern grace is a sightseers

paradise. The Roanoke Star, also known as the Mill Mountain Star, is the world's largest freestanding

illuminated man-made star, constructed in 1949 at the top of Mill Mountain and earned Roanoke the

nickname, "Star City of the South. Some nights, the star’s glow can be seen for a 60-mile radius and is

a landmark for night-time aviators.

Roanoke was and still is a railroad town, with many rail lines having crossed through the area; the

Virginia & Tennessee Railroad, the Atlantic, Mississippi & Ohio Railroad, and the Norfolk & Western

Railroad, to name a few. There are numerous museums and exhibits celebrating Roanoke’s railway

history.

The Blue Ridge Parkway runs through the Valley and is noted for its scenic beauty. The Appalachian

Trail is also located nearby with the most mileage of the trail of any state with 550 miles. Smith

Mountain Lake has 500 miles of shoreline offering a wide variety of water activities and outstanding

fishing. It’s also an easy drive to the Virginia Horse Center located in historic Lexington, VA and the

Natural Bridge Zoo and Virginia Safari Park. Massanutten and Snowshoe Mountain Ski Resorts are

both located within a 2-1/2 hour drive from Roanoke. We are also home to many beautiful and

challenging golf courses.

Numerous attractions are within an hour’s drive of the city including Dixie Caverns, Natural Bridge,

the historic towns of Eagle Rock, Buchanan, Fincastle and Lexington and the Peaks of Otter and

Mabry Mill on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Roanoke is also within easy driving distance of Blacksburg, Charlottesville, Lynchburg, VA;

Richmond, Greensboro, NC; Washington, DC; Williamsburg; and Virginia Beach

Roanoke Air Traffic Control Tower

Roanoke Regional Airport, also known as Woodrum Field, is a public airport located in Roanoke,

Virginia. On a typical day, 300 to 400 flights are handled at Roanoke; a mixture of commercial, air

taxi, military and general aviation flights. The airport is located in Roanoke County, Virginia and has

been in continuous operation since 1930. The Roanoke Regional Airport Commission governs airport

operations with a five-member panel that includes representatives from both the City of Roanoke and

Roanoke County.

The current FAA air traffic control tower was commissioned in 2005. Roanoke ATCT is a Level 7

up/down facility (tower cab and TRACON) with operations 24 hours a day. The tower is 197 feet high

and includes a base building which houses the TRACON, equipment rooms and administrative offices

for Air Traffic and Technical Operations. The airport has two crossing runways; 15/33 and 6/24.

Radar services are provided to both Roanoke and Lynchburg (LYH) utilizing ASR-8 and ASR-9 radar.

Non-radar approach control service is provided to Blacksburg, Hillsville, and Pulaski. The TRACON

also services Falwell, Brookneal and Smith Mountain Lake Airports.

There are eleven (11) operational positions in the tower cab and radar room.

Management, Support Staff and Operational Teams

Management:

John M. Broderick, Air Traffic Manager

Front Line Managers; Charles Schroeder, Don Conner and Richard Schmitt.

Support Staff:

Support Specialist Kurt Erath

Administrative Assistant Debbie Broughman

Contract Training Specialist Jackie Russell

Operational:

Donald E. Stafford, NATCA Facility Representative

Fifteen (15) Certified Professional Controllers

The facility complement is 20-24 CPCs

Directions to Roanoke Tower – 5354 Aviation Drive, Roanoke, VA 24012

540-265-2280 •

From I-81, take Exit 143 to I-581 (Roanoke exit). From I-581, take Exit 3E (Hershberger Road);

immediately merge to far left-hand land. LEFT exit onto Aviation Drive. Stay on Aviation

Drive past airport terminal complex and straight ahead to Air Traffic

Control Tower.

•

•

Expectations of All Employees

Roanoke 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

• Voice your opinions – we’re open to change

Roanoke Tower Policies

Reporting for Duty

Please arrive at the facility at 0800 for your first duty day at Roanoke Air Traffic Control Tower. The

Tower is a gated facility; use the callbox located outside the entrance gate to call Air Traffic (686) for

admittance.

Hours of Duty

Initially, you will be assigned to the Training Department. Your shift will be Monday through Friday,

0800 a.m. to 1630 p.m. Upon successful completion of your classroom training, you will then be

assigned to the Operating area. Your Front Line Manager (FLM) will discuss your schedule, your

assigned Training Team and policies concerning breaks, leaving the facility, recall policies,

emergencies, leave, etc.

Parking

All personal vehicles will need a car security hangtag; this will be given to you on your first day.

Please place on your rear view mirror. There is no assigned parking.

Security

Security is of the highest priority. FAA identification badges are to be worn at all times when on duty.

You will be given a door cardkey for use in operational areas and for entering the outside gate.

Cell Phones/Phone Usage

Cell phones are not allowed in the tower cab or the radar room. You may use them on your breaks in

an area away from the operational areas. This is strictly adhered to as interference with air traffic

systems could occur and the operations areas must be free from distractions at all times. The use of

FAA phones is for official calls or special circumstances only. When dialing outside the building, you

must dial a 9 first, followed by a 1, plus the area code and number. Use 800 numbers when possible.

Local Area Information and Online Resources

Local Area Resources

Roanoke County- www.roanokecountyva.gov/

City of Roanoke - www.roanokeco.gov/

City of Salem - www.salemva.gov/

Bedford County – www.co.bedford.va.us/

Botetourt County – www.co.botetourt.va.us/

Franklin County – www.franklincounty.va.gov/

Virginia Chamber of Commerce – www.vachamber.com

Virginia Department of Vehicles – www.state.va.us/

Housing and Relocation Assistance

www.century21.com 540-344-7765

www.longandfoster.com 540-966-5700

www.apt-guide.com/

Hotels/Short Term Housing- near Roanoke Airport

Extended Stay - www.extendedstayhotels.com 540-366-3216; 2705 Frontage Rd.

Comfort Inn – Airport – www.comfortinn.com 540-527-2020; 5070 Valley View Blvd.

MainStay Suites Airport – www.mainstaysuites.com 540-527-3030; 5080 Valley View Blvd.

Wyndham Roanoke Airport – www.wyndham.com 540-362-7082; 2801 Hershberger Rd.

Affordable Corporate Suites of Florist - 540-366-5544; 5540 Florist Rd.

Affordable Corporate Suites of Lanford – 540-362-9443; 4830 Lanford Dr.

Local Information/Shopping/Things to Do

Valley View Mall – www.valleyviewmall.com/

Roanoke Times & World News (daily paper) - www.roanoketimes.com

Local News Stations – WDBJ (CBS); WSLS (NBC); WSET (ABC)

Smith Mountain Lake – www.smith-mountain-lake.com/

Downtown Roanoke - www.downtownroanoke.org/

Taubman Museum of Art – www.taubmanmuseum.org/

Virginia Transportation Museum – www.vmt.org/

Center in the Square – www.centerinthesquare.org/

Salem Red Sox Baseball – www.salemavalanche.com/

Blue Ridge Parkway – www.blueridgeparkway.org/