View from the ground: Unit keeps runway safe, organized Published Jan. 21, 2015 By Senior Airman Joshua Eikren 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Keeping Scott's flightline safe and functional is not a small task, but the men and women who work the 375th Operations Squadron airfield management's operations desk are up to the challenge. The operations desk is located in Hangar 1, where members have 24/7 access to monitor flight operations and have direct contact with pilots, distinguished visitors, and other personnel. "We provide flight services for all inbound and outbound aircraft, conduct airfield checks, and report surface conditions of airfield pavement, conduct airfield inspections, and notify pilots of potential hazards and restrictions," said Staff Sgt. Christina Ridolfi, 375th OSS Airfield Management Operations Supervisor. Desk operators are also responsible for briefing home station and transient aircrews on airfield status and restrictions, activating the secondary crash phone to pass vital emergency information to support agencies, and responding to airfield emergencies. Flight services involve filing flight plans for pilots, which states the route the pilot intends on flying. Ridolfi and her Airmen work directly with pilots for maximum transparency. "The airfield management operations desk is important because we ensure a safe operating environment for aircraft and pilots," said Airman 1st Class Seth Calhoun, 375th OSS Operations Coordinator. These safety operations involve conducting airfield checks to monitor bird activity and removing foreign object debris. They also complete airfield inspections every day to identify new discrepancies on the airfield and monitor airfield construction projects. Ridolfi said, "Operations can change drastically from day to night and season to season. During spring and fall we are on the airfield every hour to monitor bird activity and call appropriate bird watch conditions then notify pilots of increased bird activity on the airfield. During the winter, we are busy with airfield snow removal operations and ensuring pavements have acceptable braking actions for arriving and departing aircraft." Customer service is another important part of the operations desk's many tasks. The flightline protectors greet the pilots and their passengers, which includes many distinguished visitors. Calhoun said, "Airfield management is important to me because it has brought me out of my comfort zone when comes to speaking and passing information to people. It has forced me to build on these professionals skills and helped me speak with confidence when doing so."