AF radar controllers unplug from Kyrgyzstan

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Travis Edwards
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, Kyrgyzstan --  The 376th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron radar air traffic control liaison positions deactivated Jan. 31, 2014, after 10 years of safely sequencing and separating aircraft.

"This marks the beginning of the drawdown of the EOSS," said Lt. Col. Anthony Salvatore, 376th EOSS commander, who is deployed from Andrews AFB, Md., and a native of Denver, Colo. "There will be some elements that will continue on as the base closes but with operations slowing down, the support function goes away."

The radar air traffic control liaisons provided support to American and coalition aircraft coming into and out of the Transit Center as well as worked with the host-nation controllers to provide timely and accurate weather and runway information to incoming aircraft.

"It's kind of neat to be part of something that is the last of its kind here," said Staff Sgt. Kathryn Meany, 376th EOSS radar air traffic control liaison, who was deployed from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. "There's not going to be another radar liaison here; I get to have that piece with me, I am the last person here who got to talk to our aircraft."

Meany, who is a native of Fairbanks, Alaska, received her last call from an inbound C-17 Globemaster III. "It's a little sad to leave," she said. "I've had fun talking with the local controllers and getting a firsthand glimpse of their life and learning about their culture."

The radar liaison deactivation is one part of the Transit Center at Manas departure. Per the Kyrgyz government, the lease for the Transit Center ends July 11, 2014.