On Thursday 24 April 08, CAP Senior members were invited to take a tour of the FAA's Minneapolis Air Traffic Control (ATC) En-route Center, located in Farmington, Minnesota. 12 Members total from both the St. Croix & Anoka Squadrons were in attendance.

Our hosts from the FAA gave us a personal tour of the facility, which included sitting down next to the Air Traffic Controllers. We were able to watch and listen as to how each of them preformed their jobs. They were cordial enough, to let each of us spend some time and interact with each controller and ask them questions about their specific jobs. The evening was full of added excitement as for there were moderate to severe weather outbreaks throughout the Twin Cities Class B airspace while we were on our tour.

Our hosts also gave us a brief talk on how big of an area they monitor and how air traffic is routed through the airspace under their control. We also got a brief look into how air traffic is schedule, handled and routed to and from the Minneapolis International airport.

We all gained a better understanding as why aircraft are sometimes delayed and why they arrive at their destinations on time. We thank all of the FAA personell who treated us so well and we thank them for the difficult jobs they do.

Senior members pictured, from left to right; Back row: Our FAA host, Scott Richardson, Michael Bordonaro, Dalen Kruse, David Yost, Kevin Dunlevy, Midrow: Stefan Slyvander, Clayton Hamilton, Bill Rutten, Bruce Ramsden, Front row: Shelly Supan, David Kenan, (Not pictured) Bill Reiners.