Columbus AFB Airmen, Memphis center connect

Photo By Staff Sgt. Jake Jacobsen | Instructor pilots, Radar Approach Control and tower controllers from Columbus Air Force Base interacting with monitors in a training room Nov. 22, 2019, at the Memphis Air Route Traffic Control Center, Memphis, Tenn. The Memphis center’s airspace coverage overlaps Columbus AFB’s, so whenever the base’s RAPCON and tower Airmen aren’t working the airspace it is the Memphis center controllers who are. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airmen 1st Class Jake Jacobsen)  

COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, MS, UNITED STATES

11.22.2019

Story by Airman 1st Class Jake Jacobsen 

14th Flying Training Wing

Instructor pilots from the 37th, 41st, 48th and 50th Flying Training Squadron's joined Columbus Air Force Base’s Air Traffic controllers on a trip to the Memphis Air Route Traffic Control Center (Memphis center) in Memphis, Tennessee, Nov. 22.

A total of 18 members of Team BLAZE journeyed to the center in order to connect, share knowledge, ask questions and reinforce the connection between Columbus AFB and the Memphis center.

Coordinated by Capt. Julian Kinonen, 14th Operations Support Squadron chief of aerial events, and John Hensley, Memphis center operations support, the tour was comprised of a trip to the Memphis tower, the Memphis center with lunch, as well as question and answer sessions with the controllers there.

“I thought it would be good for the pilots and controllers on base who work with the controllers at the Memphis center to get some Q & A session’s in, that way we can put names to faces between the two agencies,” Kinonen said.

During the tour Kinonen highlighted the fact that the Memphis center’s airspace coverage overlaps Columbus AFB’s. So when the base’s Radar Approach Control and control tower Airmen aren’t working this particular airspace, the Memphis center controllers are. It takes both agencies working together to execute our mission on Columbus AFB.

“I think the trip to the Memphis station and the control tower was foremost about familiarization, seeing how we work together and for the Airmen to get an idea of what we do on the civilian side of their job,” Hensley said.

Most pilots stationed at Columbus AFB, whether it is during pilot training or as a first assignment instructor pilot, will talk to the controllers working at the Memphis center when executing flights North/Northwest of Columbus.

Columbus AFB continues to maintain a strong connection between Team Blaze and the Memphis center to help execute the mission of creating the world’s best aviators.

• Date Taken: 11.22.2019
• Date Posted: 12.09.2019 13:18
• Story ID: 354808
• Location: COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, MS, US