Photo By Chief Warrant Officer Bryan Nygaard | U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Kyle Wagner monitors radar broadcasts and radio frequencies in...... read more read more
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When the U.S. Marine Corps flies its aircraft, they require a network of support that allows them to safely and effectively execute missions in support of aviation operations. This network of support consists of many different capabilities to include Marines who provide air traffic control. For the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, the aviation combat element for II Marine Expeditionary Force, that responsibility is assigned to Marine Air Control Squadron (MACS) 2.
The squadron, along with thousands of other Marines and Sailors, is currently deployed to Norway for Exercise Cold Response 2022, which is occurring from March 14 – April 1, 2022. Exercise Cold Response is a Norwegian national readiness and defense exercise that takes place across the country, with participation from 26 additional NATO allied nations and regional partners. During the exercise, MACS-2 will have two detachments operating from airfields located in Bodø and Bardufoss. These detachments will provide Marine and friendly forces with continuous all-weather radar, air space management, meteorological and oceanographic services and control of aircraft and surface-to-air weapons in support of air support and anti-air warfare.
Before they could begin providing these services during the exercise, MACS-2 had to have its Precision Approach Radar (PAR) and Tactical Aid to Navigation (TACAN) capabilities inspected by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The PAR is a type of radar guidance system designed to provide lateral and vertical guidance to an aircraft pilot for landing. The TACAN is a navigation system used by military aircraft that provides the user with bearing and distance to a ground or ship-borne station.
U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Trevor Foley, the commander of the Marine Air Traffic Control Detachment B, located in Bardufoss, said passing the inspection is essential for the safe routing of aircraft.
"This inspection allows all aircraft (USMC, joint, international) to use our USMC PAR and TACAN for safe recovery to Bardufoss airport," said Foley, a native of Titusville, Pennsylvania. "It provides crucial safety of flight precautions for any aircraft that gets caught in bad weather and needs to land in low visibility conditions. This is an important impact for the safe routing of aircraft."
The Combat Flight Inspection was conducted by U.S. Air Force Maj. Logan Smith with the 375th Operations Group, Detachment 1. This detachment is based out of Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City and travels the world conducting inspections of airfield navigation and instrument landing systems, radars, and instrument procedures.
“Almost every exercise with an air presence will require a flight inspection,” said Smith. “Additionally, as equipment breaks or is replaced, the correction is inspected. We also work with other nations and have agreements to inspect their facilities. At any given time of the year, there is at least one combat flight inspection crew operating somewhere on earth.
Combat Flight Inspections have existed since World War 2. In 1959, the U.S. Army and Navy transferred their flight inspection programs to the FAA. The U.S. Air Force transferred much of its own flight inspection capability to the FAA in 1962. During the Bosnian conflict in 1995, an effort to dissolve CFIN was halted because civilian flight checkers were not allowed to operate in combat zones. Since that time, the 375th Operations Group, Detachment 1 has worked with the FAA around the world to inspect air facilities, even ones in combat environments.
"We will go into any area that the military is trying to establish or has an aviation presence and ensure the ground to air communication and navigation
equipment functions as advertised. After we inspect the equipment, we pass the information back up the command chain. For example, during the current exercise in Norway, we are operating in an uncontested environment, which allows us to do multiple passes, report information to ground maintenance who can make adjustments and corrections, and then go back and check the corrections. In an actual combat zone, operations are slightly different, but just as thorough."
Smith and his detachment conducted this inspection by flying in a Challenger 600 Series Jet above the Bardufoss Air Station where Foley and his Marines work during the exercise. It is an area right next to the runway that has been snowplowed and consists of a small tent where his Marines will be operating various equipment and radar systems, some generators for power and several antennae systems. The jet made multiple passes around the mountainous landscape surrounding the small airfield, collecting data, and assessing the operability of the Marines’ equipment.
“After gathering all the data, it is given back to the commander of the base and ultimately he/she makes the decision on how to use the equipment, said Smith. “This allows commanders in real combat that have an absolute need to still use equipment (that is operating less then optimal) when there are no other options.”
On March 10, 2022, Foley and his Marines breathed a sigh of relief – they successfully passed the inspection. Their sister detachment in Bodø also passed their inspection.
“It was great to work with the Marines again,” said Smith. “I am always impressed with the caliber of the Marines I get to interact with throughout my career and these guys were no exception.”
| Date Taken: | 03.15.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 03.18.2022 03:29 |
| Story ID: | 416479 |
| Location: | BARDUFOSS, TROMS, NO |
| Web Views: | 1,111 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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Air Traffic Control
