Photo By Senior Airman James Johnson | U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jordan Whitworth, 8th Operations Support Squadron airfield...... read more read more
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KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- The 8th Operations Support Squadron airfield management team keeps the 8th Fighter Wing mission flowing by overseeing the coordination, safety, and efficiency of all aircraft movements.
Additionally, the Airmen on this team manage infrastructure and stay vigilant to respond to emergencies.
“We coordinate closely with multiple agencies, from contracting to safety, and ensure smooth operations under, on, and above the airfield,” said Tech Sgt. Kathy Sells, noncommissioned officer in charge of airfield management operations.
Airfield management mainly handles F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 35th and 80th Fighter Squadrons but also manages transient aircraft that come to the base temporarily for training or other missions. No aircraft enters Kunsan’s airspace without airfield management’s involvement.
“We handle flight plans, track aircraft in flight, and support Republic of Korea Air Force operations,” said Staff Sgt. Cody Holmes, NCOIC of airfield management training. “For the 8th FW, we manage all their flight plans and work closely with air traffic control and ground units.”
Airfield management engages in ongoing training and exercises to maintain proficiency and validate operational procedures. They conduct simulations of various scenarios to ensure readiness and effectiveness.
“We simulate airfield damage and determine where aircraft can taxi and how we can get planes out after assessing damages and other airfield conditions,” said Holmes.
Kunsan’s flightline stays busy as the 8th FW fulfills Pacific Air Forces’ priority to enhance combat airpower generation.
“Since we’re a fighter wing, it’s very fast-paced and things can happen on a dime,” said Holmes. “We can go from a completely normal day to an all-hands-on-deck situation due to an emergency or mission requirement.”
The airfield management operations team at Kunsan AB is pivotal in ensuring a continuum of smooth and safe flight operations. By exercising often, they continue to maintain high proficiency levels to handle the dynamic and fast-paced environment that is the mission at the 8th FW ensuring readiness for any scenario at all times.
| Date Taken: | 06.24.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 06.24.2024 19:35 |
| Story ID: | 474636 |
| Location: | KR |
| Web Views: | 24 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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