Out with the old

ALI BASE, Iraq -- The 407th Expeditionary Communications Squadron radar technician's team, drives away with the shelter containing the TPN-19 radar here May 13. The radar will be transported to Tobyhanna Army Depot to be refurbished before being returned to the 54th Combat Communications Squadron at Robins AFB, Ga. (U. S. Air Force photo / Tech. Sgt. Sabrina Johnson)

Out with old radar, in with new

Published May 20, 2008
By Staff Sgt. Nathan Gallahan
407th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs

ALI BASE, Iraq -- The installation of a new Containerized Airport Surveillance Radar here has enhanced Iraq's airspace control while allowing the old radar to be packed up this week.

"The CASR upgrades us from the analog age of the 1960s to the digital age," said Senior Master Sgt. Howard Teesdale, 407th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron chief air traffic controller. "It's more stable, it's very easy to maintain and has better than a 95 percent up time, meaning it doesn't fail very often."

Along with those enhancements, he said that the radar also has the ability to merge with similar radars throughout the region to provide a means of centralizing the airspace picture.

As for the old TPN-19 radar, it's heading home.

"The system was originally deployed the by the 54th Combat Communications Squadron (at Robins AFB,)" said Tech. Sgt. Stephen Landry, 407th Expeditionary Communications Squadron TPN-19 radar team chief. "It will be transported to Tobyhanna Army Depot to be refurbished before being returned to [them]."