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DJIBOUTI (1/19/2013) - A 12 by 6 mile former lake bed, comprised
of dry vegetation and compact sand, may seem to be useless ground.
However, the Marines from Marine Mobile Air Traffic Control Team see
this barren land as an opportunity to create a runway for aircraft
as large as a Marine KC-130.
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Lance Cpl. Daniel Aguayo, Mobile Marine Air Traffic Control Team,
Marine Medium Helicopter 364 (Rein.), 15th Marine Expeditionary
Unit, runs off a Ch-46E Sea Knight helicopter to begin establishing
a runway for a Marine KC-130 during a training evolution in
Djibouti, Jan 4, 2013. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt.
Jennifer Antoine)
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This six-man team from the Marine Mobile Air Traffic
Control Team, Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364 (Rein.),
15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, conducted training here to
keep their skills sharp for when it comes to establishing
field-expedient runways, Jan. 3 to 4.
The mission for
the MMT, or ‘pathfinders' as they're colloquially referred
to, is to establish an assault landing zone (runway) and
provide air traffic control for multiple aircraft, as well
as command and control during the entire refuel and resupply
mission. Once the aircraft has touched down, the team takes
on the additional role of fire support and security until
the aircraft lifts off again.
In less than five
minutes of stepping out of the CH-46E Sea Stallion
helicopter, the team's two communicators established contact
with the Landing Force Operations Center on USS Peleliu.
Fluorescent-orange marker panels were already designated and
placed at the beginning of the runway.
“If we're
setting up a 3,000-by-60–foot runway for a C-130, our goal
is to have [communications] up and have the entire runway
laid out within 30 minutes,” said Staff Sgt. Timothy Pinney,
staff non-commissioned officer-in-charge, MMT, HMM-364, 15th
MEU. “We need to move as quickly as possible to get the
aircraft on the ground, conduct the refuel or resupply and
get them back in the air, so the Marines can continue their
mission.”
While the communicators are establishing a
connection with the LFOC, the controllers begin establishing
the path, or runway, said Cpl. Rick Coon, air traffic
controller, HMM-364 (Rein.), 15th MEU, and Thousand Oaks,
Calif., native.
“We have one Marine as the base near
the orange panels that mark the beginning of the runway.
Then, one Marine runs out 3,000 feet and is the reference
point. The base will use the reference point to direct the
additional Marines, who will mark left and right limits
every 500 feet for the runway,” said Coon.
All
distances starting from the base are measured by using the
tried and true method of a pace count, which is most
reliable, said Coon. His team gets within a foot from the
500-foot mark and within 10 feet of the 3,000-foot mark, he
added.
“We conduct [physical training] in full combat
gear on the flight deck to help keep our pace count
consistent. We'll run for a little bit to tire out, then
measure out the distances we need to hit, and work on our
count to ensure our average pace remains the same,” said
Pinney. “We have range finders and scopes, but we usually
use pace count because it's the most reliable.”
While the runway is being established, Pinney is
communicating with the pilots of all the aircraft waiting to
land. He acts as a mobile air traffic control tower who is
responsible for controlling the airspace, so that aircraft
do not cross paths. He also keeps them updated regarding
wind speeds, landing times and anything on the ground that
could affect the landing.
“This job gives me a huge
adrenaline rush,” said Pinney. “When I'm controlling
airspace and landing times for multiple aircraft, it's an
amazing feeling.”
The perfect situation for them is
plenty of daylight and a full team. However, because of the
expeditionary nature of the MAGTF, that might not always be
the case, so the MMT is also capable of establishing the ALZ
during hours of darkness.
“We either use [night
vision goggles] and infrared lights or overt lights to light
the path. When we set up infrared lighting, someone driving
by wouldn't be able to detect anything, but the pilots see
it lit up like the JFK [airport]. If night vision is not
available, we'll light the path with standard airport
lighting techniques,” said Pinney, whose hometown is
Stafford, Va.
While the table of organization for
the MMT is 6 Marines, it is not uncommon for there to be
less than that. Therefore, Pinney's team is always cross
training to ensure every Marine can perform every job.
Only about five percent of Marines in the air traffic
control military occupational specialty hold the additional
qualification of MMT, said Pinney. Marines must complete the
follow-on six-week course from Marine Aviation Weapons
Tactics Squadron 1 at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz.,
to become a qualified combat ATC. While at MAWTS-1, the
Marines receive advanced training in different radio systems
and airfield /helicopter landing zone techniques as well.
This is so they can learn how to conduct assault landing
zone surveys.
The MMT provides a crucial task for
Col. Scott Campbell, commanding officer, 15th MEU.
“Having the MMT at his disposal doubles, if not triples, the
distance he is able to place Marines in a forward
environment,” said Pinney. “Being able to refuel aircraft or
rearm an infantry company in remote locations is what makes
the Marine Air Ground Task Force an invaluable and extremely
successful force.”
By USMC Gunnery Sgt. Jennifer Antoine
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2013
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