Military

Combat controller brings in initial OEF airflow

02/15/02 - HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. (AFPN) -- Among an Air Force combat controller's many missions is the ability to provide air traffic control under the most austere conditions. Within the first few days of Operation Enduring Freedom, one combat controller proved his long years of training in this skill as a valuable asset to the mission.

Master Sgt. Bart Decker, an 18-year combat control veteran, was among the first to arrive at a forward-deployed base in Uzbekistan in October to support America's war on terrorism. Within days of arriving, Decker put his expertise to work. In order to bring the force, needed supplies and equipment to the fight, Decker and fellow combat controllers had to tackle the antiquated air traffic control systems in place.

"The tower and the runway [were] not in bad condition, and the host nation was actively using [them]," Decker said. "However, the control tower was set up with Cold War-era equipment with 1950's technology. It had fairly old systems that weren't in the best of shape."

Since combat control teams had surveyed the tower equipment and runway systems in advance, the controllers came prepared to augment the existing gear.

As a standard, controllers deploy with portable navigational and communications systems to establish austere runways and landing zones without the benefit of an existing tower or large communications or navigational systems.

In this case, the controllers knew existing systems were useable but more modern equipment would better meet the needs of the mission.

"The in-place radar system was not up to today's technology and would limit the ability to bring U.S. aircraft in bad weather and if visibility was not perfect," Decker said.

This was a critical factor as winter was moving in and dust storms are common occurrences in the region.

After integrating a U.S. navigational system and portable lights along the runway and approach end, the controllers set up their mobile microwave landing system.

"MMLS is a mobile antennae system that enhances our ability to keep the airflow going," Decker said. "Weather and dust storms could limit the ability of the aircraft to get in and out of the airfield. The MMLS provides the aircrew a [means to] 'stair-step down' through clouds or dust storms, to bring them in to be able to see the runway. The radar system in place at the airfield was a basic system, which would limit our ability to bring the airflow in to the base."

Though the MMLS was used during peacekeeping operations in Bosnia, this is the first combat employment of the system.

"We train on the system and know it would provide us enhanced air traffic control capabilities under the circumstances in country," Decker said.

"Based on information from the advance team, we arrived at the site with the system so we could begin air traffic control operations quickly," he said. "It worked perfectly and ensured we could bring in the aircraft safely. We averaged about 15 sorties a day, around-the-clock airflow; bringing the aircraft in, getting them moved and unloaded, and flying them back out again."

A team of combat controllers worked 24-hour shifts throughout the first weeks of the operation to bring the force to the fight.

"Our team brought in the initial airflow of C-17 [Globemaster III] aircraft to the forward location," Decker said. "The C-17s brought in everything needed to establish the base camp, from people to supplies."

Despite the obstacles faced with the equipment, Decker said working with host nation controllers was a positive experience. The host nation controllers and combat controllers worked in unison to bring in the airflow.

"They received the initial call from another tower that aircraft [were] inbound," he said. "From there, they passed us the information and we began interfacing with the main radar to pick up the in-coming planes."

The working relationship did mean overcoming the language barrier, but Decker said the cooperation was good.

"We had interpreters who helped with the language barriers, but after a few days of working in the tower together we developed a good rapport with our host nation controllers," Decker said. "One of the host nation controllers even brought in a chess board and we all started playing chess during any quiet times."

After several weeks of providing critical air traffic control for the U.S. military transporters, Decker and his team of controllers brought in the bare-base support, supplies and people to turn the dot on the map into a forward operating site.