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Operations center keeps Global Hawk flying

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Luke Johnson
  • 9th Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs office
BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFNS) --  Inside the 12th Reconnaissance Squadron here, RQ-4 Global Hawk pilots and sensor operators watch a myriad of monitors and computers screens in a space that resembles NASA's mission control.

The pilots and sensor operators are not observing the space shuttle orbiting the Earth; they are keeping an eye on all Global Hawk remotely piloted aircraft missions flown by aircrews from Beale Air Force Base, Calif.

"With RPAs, you have unprecedented access to the pilot," said Capt. William Phillips with the 12th RS. "Anyone can walk up to the pilot or call them on the phone, and it can be very distracting, with the Global Hawk ops center there is one central location to call, which facilitates easy communications."

The pilots and sensor operators working in the Global Hawk operations center act as liaisons between the pilots flying the actual missions and the various taskings they receive during a mission, which allows the pilot to focus on flying the aircraft in the mission control element, or MCE.

"It allows us to have one complete picture of all Global Hawk operations, so that we can best meet the needs of our customers in order to provide the best possible intelligence," Captain Phillips said.

The sensor operators play a vital role in the operations center by programming new imagery requests into the sensor suites and ensuring the highest quality of all imagery from the aircraft.

"We track all of the imagery requests and also assist with any issues that may arise during the mission," said Senior Airman Jamaica Mickens with the 12th RS. "We can also back up the MCE and sit down with the sensor operators and show them different techniques on how to do things faster."

She said a lot of multitasking is involved in the operations center.

"It's like a juggling game because there are so many different things that you have to keep track of during a mission," she said.

In the event of an in-flight emergency, the operations center provides a second layer of support.

"Even though, there is no crew flying in the aircraft, this can be thought of as a crew airplane, where the pilot is focused on flying the mission, and we can read off checklists and make contacts to help bring the aircraft down safely,"  Captain Phillips said.

The crews in the operations center are also liaisons between the deployed locations of the Global Hawk and the pilots flying the aircraft from Beale.

"When the Global Hawks are deployed in the Middle East they belong to the forward deployed CAOC (combined air operations center)," said Captain Phillips. "We help keep all of the key players in the loop of what is going on with the Global Hawk mission."

To qualify to work in the operations center, Global Hawk pilots must have 150 flight hours and sensor operators must have 250 flight hours.

"Pilots already have experience in flying various airframes before coming into the program and sensor operators don't have as much flying experience as most come from the intelligence community," Captain Phillips said.

As the Global Hawk missions continue to increase and provide intelligence supporting troops on the ground and assisting with humanitarian missions, the Global Hawk operations center will continue to meet the needs of those who rely on the intelligence products that are gathered.

"As we expand operations, having the one Global Hawk ops center coordinating all actions will help missions run more effectively," the captain said.