NAS Pensacola Tower Still ‘Buzzing

NAS PENSACOLA TOWER STILL ‘BUZZING’ DURING COVID-19 Story and photo by Jason Bortz

As “The Cradle of Naval Aviation,” Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola continues to train and support the approximate 6,000 military students onboard the installation during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

The Sailors and civilians who operate the Air Traffic Control Tower on NAS Pensacola play a vital role to the aviation students learning to fly as well as the multitude of regular flights that arrive and depart from the base daily.

Air traffic controllers at NAS Pensacola are responsible for the safe, orderly, and expeditious flow of aircraft on and around the installation. Positioned in a 20 foot by 20 foot control tower, they monitor the position, speed, and altitude of aircraft visually and by radar. “We haven’t had a drop off in the number of flights on NAS Pensacola during the COVID-19 outbreak,” said Lt. Pat Khoryati, air traffic control officer, NAS Pensacola.

To ensure the tower remains operational and to protect the air traffic controllers from the virus, several health precautions have been implemented. The tower is disinfected regularly and the five person crews limit their exposure to other personnel on NAS Pensacola. Prior to the epidemic, service members at the Air Operations Departments would cross train in other areas to learn different aspects of the airfield, but that training has been suspended until the outbreak is over. “Air traffic controllers are vital to running an efficient and safe airfield,” said Khoryati. “We are doing everything we can to keep them and all personnel on base safe.”

Following guidance from the Secretary of Defense, the air traffic controllers are now wearing face coverings while in the tower. The guidance requires the use of face covering onboard installations when proper social distancing (6 feet) is not feasible, such as the close confines of the tower. “The face coverings don’t interfere with our jobs,” said Air Traffic Controller 1st Class Matthew Wiedenhoeft, who is from Davenport, Iowa. “We are essential, and we still have a mission to do.”

The air traffic controllers are just one example of military personnel and civilians on NAS Pensacola who continue to work during the outbreak to ensure the installation remains mission capable.

NAVY EXCHANGE SERVICE COMMAND DONATES 240 N-95 MASKS TO NAVAL AIR STATION PENSACOLA FIRE DEPARTMENT by Kristine Sturkie

An employee of the Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) in Pensacola, Fla., discovered a stockpile of N-95 masks in the maintenance supply room and donated them to Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Fla., firefighters last week.

While clearing out the maintenance supply room at NEXCOM’s Southeast Distribution Center (SEDC) located in Pensacola, Fla., Dayton Briggs, Maintenance Manager for SEDC, discovered 170 N-95 masks. He brought this discovery to the attention of Donna McCallion, General Manager of SEDC. McCallion then worked with James Mulligan, Loss Prevention/Safety Manager for SEDC, who contacted NAS Pensacola leadership to notify them of the discovery. Mulligan offered to donate all of the N-95 masks to another command on NAS Pensacola that may have more of a need. Executive Officer, NAS Pensacola, Commander Michael Harbison, connected Mulligan with NAS Pensacola, Fire Chief Daniel Chiappetta. On Apr. 2, Chiappetta picked up all 170 N-95 masks. On Apr. 3, 70 more N-95 masks were located by the SEDC and were also transferred to the NAS Pensacola Fire Department.

“I knew that our first responders were in need of N-95 masks, so I scoured our maintenance supply room and discovered a small stockpile of N-95 masks that could be donated to the first responders on base,” Briggs said. “I’m thankful these masks will be put to good use by the NAS Pensacola Fire Department. I’m honored to work for a command that constantly goes that extra nautical mile to support our military.”

N-95 masks are not required for wear at NEXCOM’s SEDC facility and will be replaced by high quality surgical-type masks that are available in the commercial supply system. Based on Apr. 5 DoD directive, all individuals on DoD property, installations and any facility are required to wear cloth face coverings when they cannot maintain six feet of social distance in public areas or work centers. Therefore, NEXCOM personnel are directed to wear personally-owned personal protective equipment, masks and gloves, scarves or bandannas while in the workplace when they cannot maintain six feet of social distance.

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