4th OSS Airmen take off for Scare-A-Controller 2015

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman John Nieves Camacho
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  In a play on words of sorts, Airmen and family members from the 4th Operations Support Squadron were 'tricked and treated' to a day of flights and fun for the inaugural Scare-A-Controller event, Oct. 31, Halloween, at Wayne Executive Jetport in Goldsboro, North Carolina.

The Goldsboro Wayne Aviation Association and the Seymour Johnson Flying Club hosted the event for air traffic controllers from the tower and radar approach control (RAPCON) sections to show their appreciation for the help those Airmen provide in controlling the airspace.

"We had a bunch of air traffic controllers from tower and RAPCON out here today to gain perspective on day-to-day ops," said Airman 1st Class Ryan Stover, 4th Operations Support Squadron air traffic controller. "We talk to several of these guys almost two to three times a day. I actually flew with someone I talk to on a regular basis."

Upon arrival to Wayne Executive Jetport, the air traffic controller group was treated to breakfast, courtesy of the 4th Force Support Squadron. Afterward, the group received briefings from multiple individuals regarding the purpose of the event, flying and safety.

"The thing about today was learning, and for the controllers, to see what it looks like from the airplane versus looking out the control tower or looking through the scope inside of RAPCON," said Chief Master Sgt. Timothy Edwards, 414th Fighter Group superintendent. "They got a lot of good visual cues today, they saw planes in the air that were three to five miles away and when they call that out to a pilot it looks different in the airplane than it does inside the tower. Their perspective today was our goal to change so they could understand what's going on in the cockpit versus in the tower and RAPCON."

Once briefings concluded, participants walked toward the flightline for a group photo before getting familiar with the aircraft and taking off. In support of the event, 30 airplanes turned out, 42 sorties were conducted, and 50 individuals were taken along for the ride. The flight took attendees around the regional North Carolina area including passes over Kinston, a low approach passing Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and to Johnston County before returning here.

"The flying was awesome, I loved it," Stover said. "Sitting in RAPCON you'll give a traffic call and these traffic calls actually do something to help these pilots out. [After coming here today] now I know who I'm talking to. I want to help this pilot out, and it was an incredible experience. Now I know what he sees when he's flying up there and I know what would more benefit him."

Once the flights concluded, Edwards went around receiving feedback from the Airmen. The Airmen also took time to thank their aviation guides for the opportunity.

"From the feedback I've gotten, it's helped them with their training and perspective," Edwards said. "All of them flew in a lot of different airplanes with all different kinds of avionics and equipment so when they see what happens when you're flying and they go back to the tower, now they know tail numbers and faces. They can go 'Oh, I flew in that airplane,' and it's going to make them better controllers overall. With the traffic callouts and the things we've seen today from the air versus the scope, it does nothing but enhance their training across the board."

Edwards is hopeful that the 2015 Scare-A-Controller event will become an annual occurrence for the 4th OSS controllers and their family members going forward.