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Airfield Management flies into the future with new technology

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Taylor Bourgeous
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Ensuring the safe landing of an aircraft is an essential job for airfield systems specialists. These Airmen at Fairchild Air Force Base have been working to install and upgrade the Instrumental Landing System on the flightline.

The ILS is an internationally normalized system for the navigation of aircraft upon the final approach and provides guidance necessary for an accurate landing.

"We are upgrading the ILS from old technology to new technology," said Tech Sgt. Trenton Otto, Air Force Flight Safety Agency Headquarters remote maintenance center technician. "In the upgrade we now use computer software, which allows us to dial in remotely to AFFSA headquarters."

Master Sgt. Trey Horn, 92nd Operation Support Squadron NCO in Charge of airfield systems, said the upgrade is all next-generation technology, and it will help reduce cost and creates a partnership between Fairchild's work center and AFFSA. The last upgrades were done in the early 2000's to the antenna systems.

A lot of work can be done out of one location because of the ability to maintain the system remotely. In doing this, manpower and money will be saved and bring maintenance costs down.

"This is an Air Force-wide change because the old systems are at the end of their cycle," said Otto. "It's similar to having a really old phone and is time for an upgrade."

The project has been in effect since Sept. 1, 2015, and the new systems are projected to save $48 million per year and about $336 million by the year 2025.

"In order for this project to be possible, it takes a good relationship between the base and AFFSA," said Horn. "Without both parties willing to work together and communicate we could not maintain these systems."