39th ABW visits Adana airport, flight school

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Daniel Phelps
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  Several members of the 39th Air Base Wing visited Turkish air traffic controllers and flight instructors to build upon local community relationships and discuss mid-air collision avoidance procedures Sept. 12, at the Adana airport and a nearby flight school.

The Incirlik air traffic controllers talk with the ATCs at Adana all the time, said Maj. Michael Mayo, 39th Operations Squadron commander. They constantly work together to monitor the air space.

"By meeting together like this, we are able to put a face and a name with the voices we hear," Mayo added.

Upon arriving at the airport, they were greeted by İsmet Kuzucuoğlu, Adana airport ATC assistant manager, who invited the Incirlik team into his office and offered them tea and water.

The Adana and Incirlik teams sat and chatted discussing their lives, cultures and procedures they each had in place for ensuring the safety of aircraft flying in the air spaces.

"It was good, knowing we are on the same page for what we are trying to accomplish - safe flying operations," said Master Sgt. Brian Miller, 39th ABW safety office. "We let each other know our intentions; we have a very close airspace."

"We call each other whenever there are issues," Mayo added.

The tour served as a professional learning opportunity for the 39thOS ATCs and their Turkish partners, Mayo said. These visits help maintain previously established relationships with the Adana ATCs, and helps set the 39th ABW up for success in case they ever need to have anything land in Adana.

Though both groups have different primary languages, there is no issue with communication.

"English is the international language for air traffic controllers," Mayo pointed out. "Since they control in English they all speak English very well, but we brought our translators along just in case."

It was really easy for the groups to communicate and ask questions of each other, Miller added.

After the first visit at the airport the Incirlik team went to a flight school to meet the instructor.

"We've had a great relationship with the school but a new instructor just took over and we got to meet him," Mayo said. "This was an opportunity to begin a new relationship from scratch."

While at the flight school, the team had the opportunity to check out the various aircraft the students train on.

After checking out the flight school and talking with the new instructor, the crew returned to the Adana airport where they were invited to tour the airport's control tower.

There, several Incirlik Airmen realized just how vast Adana is.

"We knew it was a bigger city, but didn't realize how large," Miller said.

After checking out the tower, the Incirlik team headed home and commented on their enjoyable visit with their partners.

"Any time we can get out and meet with our fellow ATCs is a good opportunity," Mayo said. "Some of them have even come and toured here as well. We have a good relationship with them and talk throughout the year. We're just keeping our friendship alive."