Airman helps Iraq assume civil air sovereignty

Published March 3, 2011
By Senior Master Sgt. Larry Schneck
9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force - Iraq Public Affairs

BAGHDAD -- An Airman was given the task of defining the limits of the sky. Six months later, he returns home with that job well on the path to completion.

Col. Ted Davis, 9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force - Iraq senior airspace planner, has prepared thousands of miles of airspace above this Middle East country for return to civilian control. The job was more difficult by having to build infrastructure and work force expertise across Iraq to make it happen.

Under the Saddam Hussein regime, the Iraqi military controlled all air traffic. The young democracy in Iraq has had to rebuild this capability from the ground up. A job that has fallen on the shoulders of Airmen like Colonel Davis.

"My biggest challenge has been to plan the transfer of civil airspace control on behalf of the Combined Forces Air Component Commander and U.S. Forces - Iraq within the framework of the Joint Security Agreement," said Colonel Davis. "We're creating a stable airspace environment that allows the Iraqi economy to grow."

Teamed with the U.S. Embassy transportation attaché, he worked through those challenges by lining up civilian contractors to provide training and technical services to the new cadre of air traffic controllers and managers. This translates into dollars and cents for the nation.

The more Iraq economically progresses, the more companies and flights into and out of the country will require a professional and safe air traffic control system.

In 2009, there were 400 to 500 civilian flights. In 2010, the Iraq civil airspace control system experienced a 60 percent increase in volume. He expects this to double and triple in coming years.

Part of Colonel Davis' deployment has been to spearhead plans to put a trained workforce in place and rebuild infrastructure destroyed through years of neglect and war. This means giving the Iraq Civil Aviation Authority the capability to carry out basic functions like air traffic control and sharing radar data and flight plans among different airports and aviation agencies around the country.

During Colonel Davis' time here, Iraq took a step on that path to air sovereignty at midnight, Sept. 1, 2010. The U.S. Air Force handed over the Kirkuk northern sector of airspace, 15,000 feet and above to the ICAA. This was the first step in a multi-step process.

"We reached the second milestone on Feb. 15 of this year," he said. "We transferred to the ICAA all airspace from 15,000 to 24,000 feet in central Iraq. This is an area about the size of North Carolina."

The third step entails turning over the same altitudes in southern Iraq. However, the native from Charlotte, N.C., will not see this transfer before he returns to the Pentagon this month.

"The mission continues as we work on an orderly transfer plan to allow the Iraqis to control all airspace at 15,000 feet and above," he said. "The end objective is control of all approach sectors."

When the turnover is completed, civilians will fully manage all aspects of the government and control of Iraq's national sovereignty.

Colonel Davis works with various Iraqis ICAA civilian leaders on a regular basis to reach these goals. He feels good watching the advances in the partnership between his country and theirs.

"They have some very talented professionals who are dedicated to make this transfer of civil air authority happen," he said. "They have been strong team players working to build safe and capable airspace management."