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The 86th Operations Support Squadron was recently awarded the U.S. Air Force Airfield Operations Complex of the Year award for 2006.
***image1***The award is a culmination of efforts to include the control tower refurbishment project, the north runway construction project, an upgraded airfield lighting system and the newly-certified CAT II/III instrument landing system.
“I am extremely humbled,” said Capt. Lloyd Dropps, 86th OSS Airfield Operations Flight commander. “We put in a lot of long hours to get here and we couldn’t have done it without all the support received from Team Ramstein.”
The award recognizes an airfield operations team that manages an extremely high operations tempo as well as a slew of construction projects and new programs as a result of the Rhein Main Air Base closure in December of 2005.
The installation of the CAT II and III instrument landing system was part of the Rhein Main Transition Program, a capability that once was filled by Frankfurt International Airport’s system when Rhein Main Air Base was operational, said Senior Master Sgt. Don Colbert, 86th OSS Control Tower chief controller. The system sends signals to incoming aircraft that allow the crews to land in very low-visibility conditions. Pilots flying appropriately-equipped aircraft can land with a 100-foot ceiling and 370 meters of visibility using CAT II procedures; those with CAT III equipped aircraft can now land at Ramstein with as little as 200 meters of visibility and a ceiling that starts at ground level. Since the system’s activation in December of 2006, approximately 35 aircraft have landed safely in CAT II and III conditions, said Sergeant Colbert.
***image2*** Part of the ILS installation included a $4 million upgrade to the airfield lighting system, said Master Sgt. Gary Kaufman, 86th OSS airfield manager. The lights are necessary for aircraft to taxi and park during CAT II and III conditions.
As planes fly in and out of Ramstein utilizing the ILS and the new airfield lighting system, they are all supported by the combined efforts of the 86th OSS Control Tower, Ground Controlled Approach and airfield management team. The 10-story control tower, which is staffed by Airmen who controlled 31,000 safe takeoffs and landings in 2006, received a much-needed upgrade that turned the 55-year-old tower into a state-of-the-art 21st Century airfield operations facility.
***image3***Beyond upgrades and refurbishments, the airfield operations staff has spent countless hours educating Team Ramstein on operational procedures that have changed due to a construction project, a new system or simply a better and safer way to operate on the airfield, said Captain Dropps.
“Our entire operation depends on the outstanding work from our young Airmen and NCOs,” said Senior Master Sgt. Tonya Pineda, 86th OSS Ground Control Approach chief controller. “We have a lot of systems, projects and operations unique to Ramstein and the young Airmen and NCOs grab the task and successfully complete the mission every time.”
