U.S., Bulgarian Airmen partner to control the skies

  • 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 and ground equipment maintainers stands a familiar piece of landscape for Airmen all over the world - the tower.

On Graf Ignatievo Air Force Base, Bulgaria, the tower 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 Spangdahlem's F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots the opportunity to fly with and against MiG 29 and 21 aircraft as well as suppress and destroy enemy air defense systems, according to Lt. Col. Andrew Walcott, 480th Fighter Squadron commander.

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

Air traffic controllers are in charge of separating the aircraft 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, 52nd OSS air traffic controller.

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

"In Europe and in America, we follow a certain set of regulations, but the Bulgarians follow a totally different set of regulations. 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," Sergeant Nagy said.

Even with the added challenges, 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 Maj. Stoyan Petkov, Bulgarian air force air traffic controller. "I would like to see these kind of exercises happen more often."