607th ACS supports presidential task

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tong Duong
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  With watchful eyes, more than 15 members of the 607th Air Control Squadron here monitored screens for potential air space violators during President Barack Obama's flight into the Phoenix area Feb. 17 to 18. 

The 607th ACS jumped at the chance to participate in this unique opportunity after being asked by their parent unit, the 552nd Air Control Wing at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., if they could fill a short-notice tasking. 

"We were notified by our senior agency on the afternoon of Feb. 13 for the potential of picking up this tasking," said Capt. Eric Bailey, 607th ACS assistant director of operations. "We had the equipment and capability, but we just needed to bring up the system to see if we could support it." 

The ACS worked until 10 p.m. that evening and again on Saturday to finish setting up and sending an air picture from Luke Air Force Base to the Western Air Defense Sector at McChord AFB, Wash., via data link, according to Captain Bailey. 

One of the main tasks for the ACS was to point out violators of an imposed temporary flight restriction. 

"A schedule was built so we could man equipment with surveillance technicians, weapons directors, interface control technicians and air battle managers (officers) to survey and identify planes that lacked 'squawking,'" Captain Bailey said. "It's an air traffic control assigned identifier that aircraft have for ease of tracking and identification." 

Any planes that were not squawking or approached a protected area were given verbal warnings to turn off the heading and vacate. Those who continued were ordered to land at the closest runway and were arrested. 

Not only did the 607th ACS Airmen coordinate with the Western Air Defense Sector, Continental United States North American Aerospace Defense Command and other Homeland Security agencies, they also saved the Air Force almost $300,000. 

"The cost savings to the Air Force came from not having to launch E-3A Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft because we were on-hand and had the coverage," said Lt. Col. John Grivakis, 607th ACS commander. "This allowed AWACS aircraft to do other training, so they could prepare for other real-world missions." 

Having gained similar experience in enforcing airspace restrictions during last year's Super Bowl, Staff Sgt. Ernest Watson, 607th ACS interface control technician and unit link manager, assisted with aircraft capping, ensuring information was sent to the proper agencies. 

"My role was to coordinate with all the agencies, pass the right air picture information and establish a data link to bring in the alert detachment guys, who scrambled if intruders entered the no-fly zone," Sergeant Watson said. 

Sergeant Watson was excited to be able to apply his craft in a real-world setting. 

"It was an opportunity that comes around [only occasionally]," he said. "To be able to support the secret service, Federal Aviation Administration and other agencies is huge," he said. "I'm proud of the unit and the people involved, they made it happen. Being able to flex, set up and schedule within 12 hours of notice while continuing day-to-day operations training for our students and the mission here was a good feeling." 

As a formal training unit, the ACS does not typically support real-world taskings. But due to the outstanding staff, they got the job done, according to Colonel Grivakis. 

"This is an example of how important it is to have command and control in one wing," the commander said. "When a tasking comes down such as this, our wing can help determine the best asset to use to provide C2. This is not something we routinely do, but we had some good expertise which allowed us to flex our muscles in this air defense arena. We were really happy to take on this tasking."