New IqAF curriculum to combine ATC, airfield management

Published June 4, 2011
By Tech. Sgt. Randy Redman
321st Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

BAGHDAD -- With less than a year left to mentor the Iraqi air force, U.S. advisors in Iraq are focusing their efforts on ensuring their Iraqi counterparts have the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed after the scheduled transition. Currently, a new training curriculum is being developed to combine IqAF air traffic control and airfield management specialties.

The mission of the Iraq Training Advisory Mission-Air is to train, advise and assist the Iraqi Air Force to develop as a professional and credible regional airpower partner, with the ability to maintain internal security and defend against external threats no later than December 31.

Tech. Sgt. Shanita Brown, ITAM-Air airfield management advisor, recently arrived in Iraq from Minot Air Force Base, N.D. She has been working diligently to merge two career fields that typically operate separately, but depend on each other to ensure safe operating conditions at airfields worldwide.

"My role is to incorporate airfield management into the Iraqi air traffic control training," said Sergeant Brown, originally from Rockford, Ill. "In our military, we have two separate career fields, but the Iraqi air force is combining those jobs."

Air traffic controllers typically manage aircraft movements during flight in 50,000 square miles of air space. They are also responsible for the safe movement of aircraft while they are on the ground. Additionally they observe weather conditions and assist aircraft during periods of bad weather with the use of radar, instrument landing systems and various types of airfield lighting.

Airfield Management personnel are responsible for the physical elements of an airfield, such as ensuring all the runway and taxiway lights are all operational and there are no potholes in the concrete. Another aspect is running the Bird/Wildlife Aircraft Strike Hazard program, which is the preservation of warfighting capabilities through the reduction of wildlife hazards to aircraft operations.

Sergeant Brown said Iraq air traffic controllers have basic knowledge of certain elements of airfield management like the purpose of runway surface conditions, communicating on hand-held radios, and the purpose of navigational aids. For this training, IqAF ATC orientation will be based on an introductory level that would be equivalent to a U.S. Airman in upgrade training. The airfield management orientation will be conducted at key bases in a classroom setting using PowerPoint slides, visual aids and hand-outs.

Capt. Robert Hughes, ITAM - Air senior air traffic control advisor, said Sergeant Brown has done an immense amount of work building a training program based on U.S. Air Force standards, but one that also uses the aspects of the airfield management program the Iraqis want to focus their efforts on.

"Right now, all airfield management functions are done by [U.S.] Airmen or contractors. We're giving [the Iraqis] the ability to cover the airfield management safety aspect, how to report problems and how to fix them," said Captain Hughes who is deployed from Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.

Sergeant Brown will be traveling to various locations throughout Iraq which fall under the ITAM-Air purview teaching the airfield management program. The final number of trainees has yet to be determined, but Sergeant Brown is planning to spend a month training approximately 20 Iraqi airmen at each location. The IqAF is also interested in sending many of its pilots through the course to ensure they fully grasp the significance of maintaining a fully operational airfield.

In addition to operating safely, the IqAF hopes to have each of their airfields eventually garner certification from the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority. This ICAA certification would mean the airfields meet international standards for safety and reliability.

"Another important factor is that each class will have a class leader. Sergeant Brown will spend extra time with the class leader to help him develop an enduring training program so they will be able to provide their own training in the future," said Captain Hughes, a Chesterfield County, Va., native. "The goal is for them to operate a safe airfield, and for them to be able to train the next generation on how to operate a safe airfield."

In the future Sergeant Brown said she hopes airfield management will be added into major decisions at the lowest level to help prevent safety mishaps and notify key personnel of airfield safety concerns.

"I'm excited because I don't really know what to expect," said Sergeant Brown. "I hope they take all the information I give them and apply it."