An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : Media : News : News Article View
NEWS | April 14, 2022

Safety through Radio

By Airman First Class Makensie Cooper 15th Wing Public Affairs

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- The 15th Operational Support Squadron (OSS) Radar, Airfield and Weather Systems (RAWS) shop technicians aid in the safety of military aircraft taking off and landing on the flightline to ensure mission success.

The Hickam RAWS technicians maintain and install everything from weather equipment and radios to ground control and navigational aids on Oahu and the Big Island for military crews.

“The main thing we do here is we take care of all of the radios in the tower so they can be in contact with all of the aircraft, and we maintain all the backup radios as well,” said Senior Airman Troy Stanley, 15th Operation Support Squadron RAWS Shop.

One piece of equipment under the RAWS Shop is the Tactical Air Navigation System, a radio air-navigation system that provides aircrew distance information as a guide to show their geographical location and is usually used by combat controllers in remote airfields.

“In our squadron, we fly a lot to locations where we don't have conventional weather and radar support,” said Capt. Bryan Anderson, 65th Airlift Squadron pilot. “The ability to call and get an updated weather product and give us more confidence on where we are going will be safe to fly, especially being here in the Pacific, which is a very open theater with not a lot of divert options to land if the weather gets bad.”

By maintaining the radios and radar systems in the control tower and aircraft, the Hickam RAWS shop ensures safety and reduces accidents on any flightline.

“The communication with the aircraft helps keep the ramp safe and secure,” said Master Sgt. William Kelley, 15th OSS RAWS Shop noncommissioned officer in charge. “The weather equipment gives the air traffic controllers all of the essential weather data that they can relay to the pilots for safe operations of their aircraft for takeoff and landing.”

CONNECT WITH USINDOPACOM

ENGAGE & CONNECT MORE WITH PACOM

                                      

IN THE USINDOPACOM NEWS
USINDOPACOM Commander addresses Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense
USINDOPACOM PRESS RELEASE GRAPHIC
Feb. 7, 2025 - Twenty-six Indo-Pacific nations participated in a virtual Chiefs of Defense forum hosted by Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command on February 4, 2025...

Readout of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's Call With Indian Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh
Readout graphic
Feb. 6, 2025 - Department of Defense Spokesman John Ullyot provided the following readout:...

France, Japan, U.S. Partner in Multi-Large Deck Event in Philippine Sea
Feb. 6, 2025 - U.S. forces will participate in Exercise Pacific Steller 2025, a multi-large deck event (MLDE) hosted by the French Navy in the Philippine Sea beginning Feb. 8. The exercise will involve ships from the U.S. Navy’s Vinson...

WRAIR empowers far-forward medics with advanced behavioral health training
The BH GEAR team (from left to right: Dr. Josh Wilk, Maj. Jose Nunuz, Capt. George Mesias, Ms. Mary Sampson , Ms. Kristina Clarke-Walper, and Dr. Kate Nugent) prepares to deliver BH GEAR Train-the-Trainer course at Camp Humphreys in the Republic of Korea. (Courtesy Photo)
Feb. 6, 2025 - In January 2025, the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research joined forces with the 65th Medical Brigade at Camp Humphreys, South Korea, to conduct a train-the-trainer course on Behavioral Health Guidelines for mEdic...

Statement on Aircraft Incident in Maguindanao del Sur
USINDOPACOM STATEMENT
Feb. 6, 2025 - On February 6, 2025, an aircraft contracted by the U.S. Department of Defense crashed in the Philippine Province of Maguindanao del Sur...