Facilities Engineering and Acquisition Division (FEAD) Camp Butler completed repairs and upgrades to the air traffic control tower at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Futenma, Okinawa, Japan, Aug. 15.

"[This project] Will make it a considerably safer environment for the controllers to do their job while ensuring that MCAS Futenma maintains its capabilities to meet its mission well into the future," said Airfield Manager Gordan McEwan.

The $274,000 project included replacement of control tower windows, repair of roof leaks and extension of the tower simulator room.

"The tower windows fogging have been an issue for the last several years. The lack of a good seal [on the windows] also made it noisy for the controllers when aircraft were operating nearby," said McEwan. "Since the installation of the new windows, the controllers' visibility has improved dramatically on rainy humid days in Okinawa, and it has also made a definite improvement with the sound proofing of the tower, making it much quieter when aircraft are operating in close proximity."

Roof leak repairs prevent water damage to millions of dollars of radar and other electrical equipment. Extension of the simulator room improves the training environment of air traffic controllers, giving them the opportunity to maintain proficiency and for novice controllers to develop their skills.

FEAD Camp Butler provides construction and service contracting support to nine Marine Corps camps and one Marine Corps air station at Okinawa, Japan.

For more news from Naval Facilities Engineering Command, visit WWW.NAVY.MIL/LOCAL/NAVFACHQ/.