US, Bulgarian airmen partner to control the sky

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Benjamin Wilson
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
GRAF IGNATIEVO AIR FORCE BASE, Bulgaria --  High above the busy work of crew chiefs, security forces members and ground equipment maintainers stands a familiar piece of landscape for Airmen all over the world -- the tower.

The air traffic control tower here is full of U.S. and Bulgarian airmen working together to keep eyes on both Bulgarian and 480th Fighter Squadron aircraft as they participate in Operation Thracian Star.

The operation's tactical training is intended to provide F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots stationed at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, the opportunity to fly with and against MiG 29 and 21 aircraft, as well as suppress and destroy enemy air defense systems, said Lt. Col. Andrew Walcott, the 480th Fighter Squadron commander.

Airmen from the 52nd Operations Support Squadron at Spangdahlem AB play a vital role in accomplishing these mission objectives while sharing the operations tower with their Bulgarian counterparts.

Air traffic controllers are in charge keeping aircraft at safe distances from each other and making sure they get to and from the airport safely by providing traffic advisories, radar services and other information to pilots, said Tech. Sgt. Edward Nagy, a 52nd OSS air traffic controller.

Though controlling air traffic isn't easy under normal circumstances, it is more difficult with the added challenges of working with a foreign military.

"In (Germany) and in America, we follow a certain set of regulations, but the Bulgarians follow a totally different set of regulations," Sergeant Nagy said. "While we are trying to apply our procedures to them for our aircraft, they are teaching us their procedures for their aircraft, so it's almost like a symbiotic relationship."

Even with the added challenges, Airmen from both sides agree the benefits of working together outweigh the difficulties.

"The best thing is to share the experience (the U.S. Air Force) has with our pilots, maintainers and logistics members, and to share the experience between two nations to become more capable with North Atlantic Treaty Organization standards," said Bulgarian air force Maj. Stoyan Petkov, who is an air traffic controller. "I would like to see these kind of exercises happen more often."