New Hampshire Guard members support Haiti relief efforts

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PORTSMOUTH, N.H. (AFNS) --  Eight New Hampshire Air National Guard Airmen here deployed to Haiti in support of Operation Unified Response Jan. 25 here.

"We have never supported a mission quite like this before," said Master Sgt. Robert Stewart, assigned to the 260th Air Traffic Control Squadron.

He said the squadron will use a mobile air traffic control unit that Federal Aviation Administration officials shipped to Haiti during the operation.

A scaled down mobile tower, which is a Humvee with air traffic control capability, is also waiting for airlift from here.

The Airman said he is looking forward to the deployment.

"I'm very excited," Sergeant Stewart said.

The group will relieve military air traffic controller teams currently operating at Toussaint L'Ouverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince. They will serve in Haiti for 90 to 180 days.

The Airmen will be joined by four air traffic control specialists from Air National Guard air traffic control units based in Mississippi, Pennsylvania and South Carolina.