Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. -- Rotor blades spun overhead as helicopters from the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office approached the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base airspace. Communication with the 4th Operations Support Squadron Air Traffic Control tower echoed through the helicopter occupant’s headsets informing them two F-15E Strike Eagles were headed in their direction.
The ATC tower Airmen directed the aircraft to follow different flight patterns, preventing what could have been a disaster. After the pilots adjusted their heading, the WCSO helicopters returned to the Wayne County Executive Airport where eight 4th Operations Support Squadron air traffic controllers originally began their flight.
These eight ATCs received a flight in the helicopters as a conclusion to a meeting with the WCSO to discuss each other’s role in aviation, April 18, 2017, at the Wayne County Executive Airport in Pikeville, North Carolina.
“This is the second time the WCSO was able to train and work with ATCs from Seymour Johnson AFB,” said Lt. Tom Parker, WCSO aviation unit chief pilot. “Today we discussed topics which enable us to work better, closer and help eliminate restrictions or limitations that would prevent both of us from doing our job.”
Parker added knowing why certain requests are made, the ATC tower and WCSO can clearly communicate their needs, enabling them to work faster and safer.
Senior Airman David M. King, 4th OSS ATC, agreed the goal of coming together is to establish a better working relationship with the WCSO.
“The more we understand each other, the better decisions we can make,” said King. “The sheriff’s office works with us daily and by understanding what they do and how they do it, we can allow certain requests for them to enter our air space. Now we can do this without affecting our mission and simultaneously help the WCSO with their mission.”
Staff Sgt. Cody Steele, 4th OSS ATC, participated in the flight and said he now knows what the other side of the radio experiences.
“We got to be on the other end of the radio and listen to the ATCs while we were flying,” Steele said. “It helped me understand how busy the pilots are. Not only are they listening to the ATC, but they also have to communicate with their dispatch, fire department or medical responders at the same time.”
The day was a huge success, added Steele. The ATC airmen expressed their enjoyment of the flight with their fellow wingmen and the WCSO pilots, stating they can now cross helicopter flight off their bucket list.