Photo By Staff Sgt. Christopher Maldonado | A U.S. Air Force Airman assigned to the 20th Operations Support Squadron air traffic...... read more read more
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Located on the edge of the flightline at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, a group of Airmen are tasked with providing aerial support from the ground.
This flight, assigned to the 20th Operations Support Squadron air traffic control tower, is tasked with monitoring flightline and airspace activity for the 20th Fighter Wing and its mission partners.
“We provide safe and expeditious air traffic control for the 20th Fighter Wing,” said Senior Airman Austin Huff, 20th OSS air traffic controller. “We provide overwatch on all their training sorties, getting them ready for Red Flags and deployments. We are here whenever they fly.”
Before these Airmen can take the reins at the top of the tower, they must start at the beginning, the training simulator.
The simulator is intended to recreate various flightline scenarios with changing in- and out-bound aircraft.
“Our tower simulation system is intended to train our 3-levels on how to use correct phraseology,” said Huff. “It allows them to conduct safe air traffic without putting lives in danger.”
After Airmen are qualified to enter the pinnacle of the tower, they put their training to the test.
“We put our trainees in extremely stressful situations,” said Staff Sgt. Homar Vallejo, 20th OSS air traffic controller. “We need our controllers to be able to act and perform their job in a high-pace environment.”
The intense environment is intended to mold the new Airmen into future air traffic controllers.
“A pilot can’t see behind him, below him, and above him all the time,” said Huff. “And that’s what were here for … to ensure that our pilots are safe and ready to accomplish the mission.”
| Date Taken: | 10.23.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 10.23.2018 14:59 |
| Story ID: | 297423 |
| Location: | SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 64 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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