Photo By Maj. Elias Zani | Tech. Sgt. Christoper Reagan, the European Regional Maintenance Center, Headquarters...... read more read more
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AL ASAD AIR BASE, Iraq — Airmen assigned to the European Regional Maintenance Center, Headquarters Air Force Flight Standards Agency, recently deployed to Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, to install an instrument landing system.
The usage of an instrument landing system is not out of the ordinary for modern airfields; in fact, this setup is used by most international airports.
“It’s very rare that we get to come out and do a full install of an ILS,” said Master Sgt. Chadd Thomas, an ERMC flight chief of field maintenance. “It’s a great training opportunity for some of my team who haven’t had the chance to do a cradle-to-grave job like this.”
Al Asad Air Base, currently being used by the Coalition forces in their continued fight against Daesh, boosted the airfield’s traffic capability while maintaining safety by setting up this system.
Master Sgt. John Morgan, the 443rd Air Expeditionary Squadron Deployable Air Traffic Control and Landing Systems chief of maintenance, leads the team which oversees the primary air traffic control radars.
Prior to the installation of the instrument landing system, the primary air traffic control radars included the precision approach radar.
The installation of this system not only boosts efficiency and safety, but reduces the stresses which come with inclement weather.
“This equipment is necessary for the pilots to land during inclement weather, when they cannot see the runway,” explained Thomas. “It’s great that the team out here was able to secure this critical equipment and that we had an opportunity to really see the impact our work has.”
As the fight against Daesh continues, Coalition forces operating in and out of Al Asad will be provided the same high-quality landing data which would be provided should they land at an international airport, enhancing safety, optimizing airfield operations and ensuring that operations can continue 24 hours a day.
“Not all Coalition pilots are well versed in a PAR approach, where they have to listen to the controller give directions.” Morgan said. “But the ILS is a universally used piece of equipment, so all of these pilots should be used to the system.”
| Date Taken: | 03.29.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 03.29.2019 04:56 |
| Story ID: | 316108 |
| Location: | IQ |
| Web Views: | 102 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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