Base transitions system to improve airfield operations Published Aug. 4, 2014 By Angelina Casarez 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Recently, at Scott Air Force Base, the 375th Operations Support Squadron took over the Air Traffic Control and Landing Systems (ATCALS) maintenance mission, which had been the responsibility of communications squadrons for more than 50 years. In a joint decision, the Secretary of the Air Force's Office of Information Dominance and Chief Information Officer determined the ATCALS mission was not inherently a cyber-mission and directed that all Air Force installations transition the functional authority to operations groups by October 31, 2014. Once the transition was approved in December 2013, Team Scott acted quickly. With great planning and coordination, Scott completed the transition five months ahead of schedule, aligning air traffic control, airfield operations, and ATCALS maintenance under the 375th OSS. The transition did not come without a lot of work and preparation from many units on base. The Communications Group simultaneously worked with the 375th Logistics Readiness Squadron, 375th Civil Engineer Squadron, 375th Contracting Squadron and OSS to update the antiquated airfield copper to fiber optic cables. "The team dedicated 400 hours to digging a 1.5 mile trench, transporting 400,000 pounds of cargo, and installing conduit along with 2.5 miles of fiber optic cable." said Clark Wells, 375th Communications Group project manager. During the process the team innovatively found ways to significantly reduce the overall cost by more than $300,000. They added extensions to the tactical air navigation and meteorological systems, improved service for additional systems, and provided for future expansion. According to the 375th Communications Group commander, Col. Michael Cote, this effort significantly reduced repairs and outages while providing increased capacity for future upgrades. "Without this upgrade [new fiber cables], the new instrument landing system would not have reliable communications with the Regional Maintenance Center, which could cause frequent outages and interruption to flying operations," said Master Sgt. Randy Reeves, NCO in-charge of airfield systems. For Scott, the functions of air-to-ground radio, instrument landing, tactical air navigation, and meteorological systems maintenance will transition. Airmen who work in these functional areas will receive a new Air Force Specialty Code that will indicate operational support function. The transition will also involve re-writing regulations, certifying new flight supervision in airfield systems maintenance, the transition of equipment and vehicles, transfer of funding accounts and a myriad of tasks coordinated through other organizations on base before, during and after the process. "Through the new streamlined process, the OSS will save time when responding to maintenance issues on the airfield that involve a radio, navigational aid, or other airfield system," Reeves said. "This Air Force initiative includes modernization of the instrument landing system, tactical air navigation, and ground-to-air radio systems to allow remote monitoring and maintenance from a central location." The ATCALS primary maintenance responsibility will belong to the Regional Maintenance Center, Oklahoma City, Okla. The new fiber cables make it possible for the ATCALS to communicate maintenance issues with the center. "Outage reporting is simplified now," Reeves said. "Airfield systems customers can now call us directly." If maintenance is needed on the instrument landing system that cannot be done remotely by the central Regional Maintenance Center in Oklahoma the center will notify airfield operations at Scott who will determine a course of action. "By restructuring the authority, the ATCALS operators and maintainers will integrate into one cohesive team," said Lt. Col. George Granholm, 375th OSS commander. The administrative portion will continue to operate under the 375th Communications Group until the final transition takes place in November. The airfield upgrade projects underway are anticipated to be completed by the fall.