SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador - Three members from the 260th Air Traffic Control Squadron from the New Hampshire Air National Guard traveled here recently to participate in a week long subject matter expert exchange with the El Salvador Air Force May 7-11.
The focus of the exchange was on sharing air traffic control experiences, and Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Alfred Orsini, Master Sgt. Richard Reed and Master Sgt. Pranav Zaveri shared theirs with members of the Salvadoran ATC community.
The El Salvador Air Force, scheduled to stand up their own air traffic control squadron soon, looked to members of the New Hampshire Air Guard for experiences and lessons learned during their processes.
"The 260th squadron is a relatively new squadron, having stood up in 1997," said Air Force Master Sgt. Pranav Zaveri, a New Hampshire Air Guard air traffic controller. "We're here to share our experiences with them as they begin that same process."
Although to be effective, Zaveri said he needs to know the needs of the Salvadorans and how the New Hampshire Air National Guard can provide them with the tools to be successful moving forward.
"What we've learned here is the resiliency of the El Salvador Air Force for having such a small budget and what they have done with it, which is remarkable," Zaveri said. "Lack of funds, lack of equipment and lack of a training plan, the politics that prevents them from having a full training squadron. But they still make due and have a smile on their face every time we see them, which is great."
Through briefings and open discussions, the training is providing the Salvadoran air traffic controllers an opportunity to pave the way for managing its future.
"We're training controllers on how we can be world-wide deployable and be able to control traffic anywhere in the world," he said.
"It's very exciting to know you are going to a hostile area helping aircraft from your own country get down to the ground safe," said Salvadoran 1st Lt. Nathan Ortiz, El Salvador air force.
The group from New Hampshire also had the chance to tour air traffic control towers at two local airports.
The collaborative exchange is a continuation of the ongoing partnership between New Hampshire and El Salvador.