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Team works to make flight line safe place to land in round-the-clock operation

  • Published
  • By Brandice Armstrong
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TIKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., --  They are the guardians of the night, protecting Tinker's flight-line from enemies lurking in the darkness. They are also the Air Force's saviors, protecting against unforeseen occurrences.

While most Tinker personnel and residents are soundly sleeping, several units work tirelessly to protect the flight-line from obvious and obscure dangers.

"Our biggest thing is keeping the bad guys out, and our threats are not just external threats, but there are also internal threats," said Master Sgt. James "Duke" Farquharson, 72nd Security Forces Squadron Charlie Flight chief. "So, we need to be on the ball, alert and aware."

From security forces and the air traffic control tower, to weather center and the base operations workforce, Tinker's flight-line is heavily monitored.

Beginning his mid-night shift, Anthony Kaczka, Air Traffic Control watch supervisor, examined equipment, night skies and the runway below for aircraft moving on the tarmac, vehicles performing nightly duties, and the chance an emergency might take place.

Meanwhile David Jones and Jerry Ealom, 72nd Operations Support Squadron Airfield Management personnel, monitored the flight-line from Base Operations, in Bldg. 240. During their mid-shift, they managed the airfield and were ready to coordinate an aircraft alert launch, should it be necessary.

"Because of task saturation that has happened over the last few years, we might be one of the few 24-hour bases left open," Mr. Ealom said. "An emergency could pop up anytime and the only place they have to go is Tinker, so it's good to know we're open 24 hours."

If an emergency landing or launch were to occur, Staff Sgt. Jimmy Henningsen, 72nd OSS weather forecaster, waited in the wings. Also situated in Bldg. 240, and also worked a mid-shift, he forecasted flying conditions for the following day and flight routes for upcoming flight plans.

"We forecast within five miles of our base and everywhere within the United States that aircraft are going," he said, "and if they're deploying or going to South America or Hawaii, we forecast for them as well. We try to be as accurate as we can."


While the air traffic control tower, base operations and the weather center patrol the skies, security forces man the flight-line.

During Sergeant Farquharson's 12-hour overnight shift, which began at 6 p.m., he performed post checks for the flight-line throughout the base. There, more security forces' members patrol the area ensuring everything is as it should be.

"We're here to deter any terrorist attacks and so far, it looks like we're doing our job because nothing has happened yet," said Airman 1st Class Michael Urrutia, a 72nd SFS member who patrolled the 507th Air Refueling Wing.

Senior Airman Anthony Pyles, a 72nd SFS member, who was also on patrol, agreed. "It's about national security," he said. "We're keeping everything safe and that's why I do it."