Combat Controllers Ensure Safe Landings in Ecuadorian Rain Forest

Combat Controllers Ensure Safe Landings in Ecuadorian Rain Forest

Released: July 2, 1997 By Senior Airman Adam Stump24th Wing Public Affairs Office

SAN LORENZO, Ecuador (AFNS) -- Sixty miles north of the equator, combat controllers from the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron provided essential support for pilots from Howard Air Force Base, Panama, and the 310th Airlift Squadron during a recent mission.

Master Sgt. Mickey Wright and Staff Sgt. Eric Provow, members of the third Combat Control Team (CCT) temporarily assigned to Special Operations Command South, played a critical role in providing air-traffic control for C-27 aircraft. The C-27 supported the 505th Engineering Battalion's nation-building project in San Lorenzo.

Ensuring Safe Landings

While deployed, Wright and Provow controlled the landing zone to ensure the C-27 could safely land on the grass airstrip. To mark safe landing areas, they set up four orange markers, creating a 300-foot-long box at both ends of the 2,700-foot runway. Additionally, they monitored weather conditions and assessed the runway's suitability for landings.

With frequent rain in Ecuador's dense rain forest, weather posed significant challenges, said Wright. "We were excited the flight Sunday landed because it was the first one all week. It rained three hours overnight, but I prayed to the rain god to be sunny, and he came through."

On-the-Ground Expertise

Lt. Col. Eugene Barnash, commander of the 310th Airlift Squadron, emphasized the importance of the controllers' presence.

"It's absolutely crucial for us to know if the runway is dry enough to land on," he said. "Since the runway is so small and we have to make maximum use of our brakes, they're our experts on the ground to let us know it's safe. We need observers on the ground, and these guys are our qualified controllers to get us down safely."

Additional Training and Collaboration

When not actively directing aircraft or inspecting the makeshift runway, Wright and Provow focused on physical fitness, studying, and cross-training with Army counterparts.

"We learned how to use some new equipment while we were down here," said Provow. "The Army has different radios, so we learned how to use theirs and taught them how ours work."

Capt. Chris Newton, company commander for the 505th Engineering Battalion, highlighted the controllers' contributions.

"These guys are invaluable. Without them, the C-27 couldn't land. They have the experience and the training to make it happen," Newton said.

Mission Impact

The mission in San Lorenzo showcased the versatility and expertise of Air Force combat controllers. Their ability to establish and maintain reliable landing zones in austere environments enabled vital supplies and personnel to reach the remote region, supporting infrastructure development and nation-building efforts.

Through their adaptability, teamwork, and technical skills, Wright and Provow ensured the success of this critical mission in Ecuador's challenging rain forest terrain.