The powerful play goes on, wing schedulers contribute a verse

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Cary Smith
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  If each mission is thought of as a play in the European forces theater, then behind the curtain is a network of teams ensuring all moving parts work properly. The maintenance squadron builds and repairs the set, while the pilots practice their performance for the stage. In the mix of it all, are other units working together on every component to execute the play.

In order for a successful performance though, aviation resource managers must contact the correct people and secure the right slots for each time of the play.

Aviation resource managers with the 31st Operation Support Squadron wing scheduling office coordinate with several agencies to guarantee pilots have airspace to perform their mission-sets.

"Our office is the liaison between the Italian air force, different squadrons, and commercial agencies [for airspace coordination]," said U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Julisa Cook, 31st OSS wing scheduler assistant. "We receive multiple requests for flight missions on a weekly basis, and we try our best to get them that airspace."

According to Cook, the sky around Italy is divided into several sections, each with certain rules and regulations. Depending on the type of mission being flown, a set airspace is required to fly aircraft.

Mission planning begins at the squadron level, where priorities are set for providing pilots with the flight training they need for various qualifications.

"The flight commander and director of operations set the priorities, and my office develops a schedule to include all the pilots' currency training," said Capt. Matthew Wetherbee, 510th Fighter Squadron fighter pilot. "Currencies are flight qualifications that pilot's need to stay up-to-date on in order to maintain a state of combat mission readiness."

A mission set may include tactics only allowed over water, or coordination with ground units in certain areas of Italy. The squadron leadership creates a general idea what training phase needs to be performed. Then a schedule is made for the F-16 Fighting Falcons to be configured by maintenance for the mission, said Wetherbee.

During planning of what training phase will be accomplished, the aviation resource managers sift through charts of information while on phone calls with Italian agencies to secure the desired airspace.

"Some airspace is first come first served and as long as a request is submitted early enough, we get it," said Cook. "Some designated regions become almost a competition with other installations and commercial agencies."

Time is crucial and any change to the plan set out by the squadrons can affect the overall efficiency of the mission.

"Each flight costs approximately $25,000 of the taxpayer's money, so we need to be accurate with all of our maintenance and planning," said Wetherbee. "A change in the mission set or realizing a pilot does not meet the qualifications for a flight may change the location we send our jets."

Minor changes impact aviation resource manager's coordination efforts as they work to ensure pilots are scheduled to acquire the upgrade training and qualifications they need.

The main focus of securing airspace requires a specific timeline so that Aviano can continue its mission.

"There are exact steps in each mission's timeline where briefs occur, an aircraft's maintenance is checked, and when pilots take off and land." said Senior Airman Javone Mars, 31st OSS wing scheduling assistant. "It becomes a trickle effect that pushes each next step back if any one of those requirements takes too long, including our part to secure airspace."

According to Mars, there are maintenance and aircrews to think about when scheduling take-offs. Pushing a mission's timeframe even a few hours can easily impact mission-sets the next day.

"We want to stay mission-ready," said Cook. "Our office does everything to ensure we acquire the proper airspace so pilots can receive their training."

Aviano's mission is to deter aggression and defend U.S. and NATO interests through airpower. Although many hours are spent ensuring the aircraft and pilots are ready for flight, equal time and effort are spent in securing a space to fly in as well.