Aklavik (Oct 09/06) - For Michael Greenland, it's easy to tell the difference between a hygrometer and an anemometer.

One measures humidity; the other measures wind speed. It's really quite obvious.

But of course, Greenland works in the tower at the Aklavik airport, where he uses these tools every day.

In March of 2005, when he first came into the job, he said it was difficult learning all the jargon.

"It's like a different language, talking to pilots," he said.

As radio operator and "observer/communicator" for Aklavik's airport, Greenland works in a tower office overlooking the landscape.

He reports weather to NAV Canada every hour, and also helps pilots line up their planes for arrival.

"I work alone here, so that's pretty good," Greenland says.

And while work is never too hectic - since Aklavik has only one runway to coordinate - Greenland said he works long hours.

Thanks to an agreement with another operator, Otto Malegana, he works 10-hour days, seven days a week, for two weeks straight - before getting two weeks off.

"We both decided on it," Greenland said.

"We'd rather work long hours, and then really take some time off."

And while Greenland will eventually leave the job to finish his civil engineering degree, he said he's doing pretty well.

Not every office has such a nice view.