Volume 24, No. 3 NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen 15 February 2008 “Good morning Frisbee Radar, this is NATO one zero” By Heidi Soerensen 1 Lt. Michael Kneib and TSgt Anders Schiele It’s a normal Tuesday in on-the-job training. morning and the Air Traffic Photo Andrea Hohenforst Control (ATC) operation room in Building 219 is only illuminated by the radar sweeps from the scopes. The ATC officers’ concentrated facial expressions and their firm voices reveal the serious responsibility of the operations that they conduct. “Good morning NATO 10. I have you loud and clear. Radar contact. Continue climb to flight level 070”, replies ATC officer 1 Lt. Bruno Blaum. When the E-3A has been safely handed over to the civilian ATC, in this case ATC Langen, Blaum explains, “Frisbee Radar has an Area of Responsibility (AOR) that covers more than 450 km2 and goes up to 3500 feet. In that area our main task is to prevent collisions between aircraft. We control aircraft and provide advice and information for a safe performance Coordination before each flight is and runway in use, as well as other distance from touchdown and the of flights. Furthermore we try to quite comprehensive and so is the important information. Needless glide path,” says Blaum. avoid unnecessary aircraft noise structure of the airspace. The runway to say, the workload pressure for The ASR 910 Surveillance Radar by monitoring that prescribed and is on German territory, but as soon as the ATC officers is quite extensive in providing the radar picture for published procedures are strictly the aircraft takes off from runway 27 the final minutes before and during Frisbee Radar and the PAR 80 used obeyed.” (westerly direction) it is airborne in departure. On the other hand the ATC for conducting Precision Approach Dutch airspace, and when taking off officers show a convincingly calm and Radar approaches have been in use in Frisbee Radar and the Tower from runway 09 (easterly direction) professional attitude to the conduct Geilenkirchen since 1982, and so has constitute the Air Traffic Control it is airborne in German airspace. The of their operations. the operation room. In 2009, Frisbee Section in the Airfield Services Tower Control Zone is a combined Radar will receive a new digital Squadron. A total of 25 ATC officers zone operated with ATC Beek at “During recovery we are also very radar system, which includes new are employed here, and since ATC is a Maastricht-Aachen Airport. busy. There are no landings on this surveillance radar, radar screens and national matter they are all German. Component that are not coordinated a data link system. Before each mission a flight with at least one other ATC unit. In “I have been working as an ATC An ATC officer is trained for five to plan is filed and distributed by the addition to all the coordination and controller here in the Frisbee Radar six years before he is fully licensed. Aeronautical Information Service vectoring of aircraft with the Approach since October 1981, and looking back To acquire the necessary ratings for (AIS) to all the ATC units concerned: Surveillance Radar (ASR), we also I must say that the 25th Anniversary both ATC units at Geilenkirchen, it contains important information execute approximately 30 percent of was something really special. During about one year of on-job-training is about departure and recovery. all landings via the Precision one and a half hours we had more needed. The ATC officers are all cross- Approximately one hour before Approach Radar (PAR), meaning that than 30 aircraft landing and that trained to man both the Tower and take-off the pilots are in their seats the ATC officers give instructions and was the busiest time ever,” says the the Frisbee Radar, thereby increasing and making their first radio calls information to the pilot about the Deputy Senior ATC Officer, Capt. both their knowledge and their to Tower, which provides them position of his aircraft in relation to Norbert Schilling, who retired on flexibility. with information about weather the extended runway centerline, the 31 January. 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What the offender’s Wing/Squadron North Rhine Westphalia State follows is a short description of the Commander or Division Chief. Parliament (Landtag) passed new smoking policy on the E-3A the ‘Act for Improving the Component. It came into effect 1 Smoking and health. Protection of Non-Smokers’. January 2008, but the smoking policy fire prevention reasons. Specially “Smoking involves significantly This new law is the result of relating to the clubs will come into designated smoking areas have increased risk of cardiovascular developments in other countries effect 1 April 2008. been prepared in each club. As of diseases such as heart attacks and and in the German Federal law 1 April 2008 smoking customers cerebral strokes. It releases highly on non-smoking enacted in Smoking Policy on the E-3A Component of the Sentry Club should frequent cancerogenic agents particularly 2007. The new law entered into On the E-3A Component smoking the former Sports Bar, the Frisbee associated with lung, throat and effect in NRW on 1 January is not permitted in any office or Club converted their TV room into a kidney/bladder cancer. It harms 2008, except that the section indoor work area. Such areas include smokers’ room and the Officers’ unborn children and promotes concerning catering facilities hallways, toilets, dining halls and Club opened a Smokers’ Lounge in stomach ulcers and reflux disorders. (such as restaurants and clubs) all Component-owned vehicles. In the Casual Bar. In Germany there are 270 smoking- will become applicable on 1 July addition, specific outdoor areas such related fatalities per day, versus 23 2008. as the flight line have been declared Please be aware that no food people killed in traffic accidents,” says non-smoking areas in view of safety service personnel will be available Occupational Health Physician Dr. In accordance with the new or fire prevention reasons. As of 1 in the designated smoking areas. Helmut Stienen. law and as a result of the latest April 2008, smoking will be generally The clubs kindly ask their customers investigations into the health risks prohibited in all clubs. However, all to order refreshments at the bar The overall purpose of the of passive smoking, it has become three clubs have prepared specially beforehand and take them along to new smoking policy at the E-3A essential to establish measures for designated smoking areas.