An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | July 15, 2021

270th ATCS makes ANG history during Patriot North exercise

By Master Sgt. Laduska Dewitt, 173rd Fighter Wing

FORT MCCOY, Wis. – Airmen from the 270th Air Traffic Control Squadron out of Kingsley Field in Klamath Falls, Oregon, operated a mobile air traffic control unit during Patriot North 21 at Ft McCoy in June.

Patriot 21 is a training exercise for civilian emergency management and responders to work with the military on disaster response. In this scenario, 59 agencies demonstrated their ability to respond after a 9.0 magnitude earthquake in the Midwest.

The Airmen of the 270th ATCS controlled 133 aircraft that delivered supplies, provided medevacs for casualties, controlled search and rescue efforts, and enabled intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations under instrument flight rules. IFR conditions are defined when visibility is lower than three miles and/or the sky ceiling is less than 1,000 feet.

The 270th ATCS achieved several milestones during this exercise. The squadron deployed the Deployable Instrument Landing System, the Mobile Tactical Air Navigation System, Tower and a new Agile Combat Employment (ACE) Concept Radar package known as Q-Radar. It was the first time in Air National Guard history a radar air traffic controller communicated with live aircraft during annual training, proving the IFR capabilities during domestic operations. 

Another milestone achieved using the ACE concept was the Landing Zone Safety Officer package. LZSO operations have become highly sought after by the flying community training for a different type of warfighting. LZSO-qualified Airmen from the 243rd ATCS, Wyoming Air National Guard, trained 11 Airmen to establish and control a LZSO during the exercise. This led to a short field landing on a landing strip by a C-17 Globemaster.

This was the first time the 270th ATCS established a controlled airport from start to finish. The 270th Airmen assumed a handoff from the North Carolina National Guard's tactical air control party specialist while using all their mobile equipment. They ensured a legal landing zone was established. Radar handled aircraft outside five miles, then switched them to tower frequencies to be directed to the correct landing areas. On departure, the tower cleared the aircraft, controlling them for five miles away and then shipping them to radar until they reacher another controller's airspace. 

At the end of the exercise, the airfield returned to an uncontrolled landing strip. 

 

 

Related Articles
Col. Christopher Lantagne, Oregon Air National Guard director of staff, in front of a 109th Airlift Wing LC-130 in November 2024 in Antarctica. Lantagne recently finished a six-week tour as the commander of the 13th Air Expeditionary Group at McMurdo Station, Antarctica.
Oregon Air Guardsman Completes Commander Tour in Antarctica
By Steven Conklin, | Dec. 30, 2024
PORTLAND, Ore. - Col. Christopher Lantagne, Oregon Air National Guard director of staff,  completed a six-week tour as the commander of the 13th Air Expeditionary Group at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. The 13th AEG supports...

U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Duke Pirak, acting director, Air National Guard, climbs into the cockpit of the F-15D Eagle for his first flight in the Eagle in five years at Kingsley Field in Klamath Falls, Oregon, Sept.16, 2024. The 173rd Fighter Wing at Kingsley Field provides initial and requalification training.
Air National Guard Acting Director Returns to Fly Eagle
By Tech. Sgt. Daniel Reed, | Sept. 24, 2024
KINGSLEY FIELD, Ore. - The 173rd Fighter Wing, home of the F-15C Eagle training school, produces new pilots as part of its mission, but it is also home to experienced pilots who require requalification in the Eagle. Pilots...

Master Sgt. Tom Krob, an aircraft hydraulic systems specialist, 148th Fighter Wing, Minnesota Air National Guard, stands in front of an F-16 Fighting Falcon at the Duluth Air National Guard Base. Krob is retiring in July 2024 with more than 42 years of service to his state and nation.
Minnesota Air Guardsman Closing Out 42-year Career
By Audra Flanagan, | July 18, 2024
DULUTH, Minn. - In May 1982, Joan Jett’s ‘I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll’ was No. 1 on the radio, and Master Sgt. Tom Krob enlisted at the 148th Fighter Wing, Minnesota Air National Guard, as an aircraft fuel systems specialist. Early...