Lakenheath air traffic controllers pick up NATO training mission

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Chris Stagner
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England (AFNS) --  Royal Air Force Lakenheath air traffic controllers trained eight Spanish air traffic controllers prior to their upcoming NATO deployment in July here.

The Spanish controllers were here for two weeks, and they will be followed by another group of eight for two weeks prior to their departure to meet NATO and U.S. European Command mission requirements.

The Spanish government requested the training to improve the eight Spanish air traffic controllers' English as well as prepare them for what to expect when they arrive at their deployed location.

"We developed a training plan specifically for them based on the Air Force method for training our controllers as they arrive to any new base," said Master Sgt. Thomas Scheving, the 48th Operations Support Squadron tower assistant chief controller.

These programs are intended to assist the Spanish controllers with specific verbiage used to talk to aircraft that might be new to them as well as front load them with as much information about their airspace and airfield as possible prior to their departure, Sergeant Scheving said.

The training is working, said Spanish air force Capt. Jose Arias, the chief controller for the deploying team.

"The phraseology is about the same, but there are minor differences in procedures," he said. "Becoming familiar with those differences has been great. We learned about arrival, departure and hold-short procedures that are dissimilar from ours.

"For us, though, it was very important to receive all the information and training we need so we can do as well as possible there," the captain said. "When you receive the information firsthand, it takes away some of the fear. Talking to people who have been there is very good."

The trainees weren't the only ones to benefit from the training.

"For me being so new in the career field, this is my first opportunity to train a new controller," said Senior Airman Carlos Santiago, a 48th OSS air traffic controller. "This is really setting me up to be a better trainer for the Air Force. Also, working with our NATO partners has been huge for me. It's given me some great insight into how, working with our partners, we keep each other safe in a deployed environment."

While the training program has been mutually beneficial for both American and Spanish controllers, it wasn't always easy.

"The process at first was difficult because of the language barrier and the minor differences between how they do things and how we do things," Airman Santiago said. "We got through that by joking with them. Some of them were timid initially, but the humor really opened them up and made things run more smoothly."

Sergeant Scheving echoed that sentiment.

"It's not just about business, it really is about the friendly ties we build as we train together," he said. "This is the first time we've done this, but I hope it won't be the last."