Peak hour at Scherger

By Private John Wellfare

AIR Traffic Controllers who deployed to RAAF Scherger to coordinate F-111 flights during Exercise Kakadu faced the challenge of operating for extended flying hours and with temporary facilities.

The deployed controllers arrived at RAAF Scherger with members of No. 381 Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron in mid-July and worked closely with members of No. 1 Combat Communication Squadron to activate the base’s flight line.

Air Traffic Controller Flight Lieutenant John Rozells, from No. 44 Wing Detachment, East Sale, said establishing reliable communications had been the four-person team’s main priority.

“They’re our basic tool really, the radios, it’s what we need to perform our job,” he said.

“We’re providing a runway separation service, plus traffic [control] for the aircraft within the restricted area at [RAAF] Scherger and emergency activation for the airfield.”

The controllers operated from a portable tower facility while coordinating up to three waves of four aircraft each day. RAAF Scherger’s remote location allowed for more night flights and subsequently longer hours for the deployed controllers.

“They can be quite long days,” Flight Lieutenant Rozells said, “and like most bases we have a few fairly busy periods but then long moments of not a lot happening.”

The controllers also worked within the threat scenario developed by Headquarters No. 395 Expeditionary Combat Support Wing.

 

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