ATCs own the skies Published July 8, 2014 By Senior Airman Stephanie Morris Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- 5th Operations Support Squadron air traffic controllers conduct operations in the control tower on Minot Air Force Base, N.D., May 20, 2014. ATCs are in constant communication with both pilots and ground crew to ensure the safety of aircraft during taxi, take-off and landing. The current lull in operations, due to runway construction, has allowed Minot's ATCs to refocus on training.