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Airfield Management oversees many challenges

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. David Dobrydney
  • 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan --  Editor's Note: This is the second story in a three-part series about how the Airmen of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing operate the busiest single-runway airfield in the Department of Defense.

It's no simple task overseeing the busiest single-runway airfield in the Department of Defense.

The 455th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron Airfield Operations flight is responsible for the safe use of the airfield.

Airfield Operations is technically split into two sections, Airfield Management, which is charged with the physical runways and ramps, and Air Traffic Control, which supervises the airspace. These roles are filled by Capt. Christopher Lessard and 1st Lt. Jeffrey Craven, 455th EOSS Airfield Operations Liaison Officers.

"We're both fully qualified to do [both roles] depending on what's going on that day," said Lessard.

Of course, being in an area of conflict presents unique challenges.

Due to stipulations in the Status of Forces Agreement between the United States and Afghanistan, the day-to-day operation of the airfield is conducted by contracted employees, with Lessard and Craven acting as liaisons between them and the U.S. Army, which controls the logistics for the base.

"Normally the Air Force controls all aspects of the base," said Lessard, who said that cooperation is key when working with the Army, who operate under different doctrines and policies.

"It's a lot of relationship-building, them trusting you. You have to understand the second and third effects of 'if I take something from the Army, how's that going to affect them?'" Lessard said.

Besides supervising the contract and maintaining the Army-Air Force relationship, there is the matter of the airfield itself, which saw a takeoff or landing every 1.5 minutes during 2012.

"Here you're mixing aircraft that are on flightplans, that you know when they're coming, with aircraft that don't," said Craven. "You could have a mental picture of what's going to happen in the next ten minutes and have it be completely changed by one call."

However, Craven said the civilians who work in the air traffic control tower are always up to the task.

"The flexibility that our controllers are able to show is unmatched to most any other airport, civilian or military," he said.

In addition to supervising the contractors and working with the Army, Lessard and Craven are also responsible for long-term planning of improvements to the flightline. Future plans include perimeter roads to reduce hazards from road vehicle crossings and de-mining areas for future use.

The number one goal, though, whether Airman, soldier or contractor, is to ensure that aircraft can arrive and depart Bagram safely.

"We're all on the same team supporting the same mission," said Craven.