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RAWS maintains critical communication systems

Photos by Airman 1st Class John R. Wright
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
December 11, 2020
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Christopher Kenny, 86th Operations Support Squadron radar airfield weather systems supervisor, inspects the main modulation card for an Air Traffic Control Tower radio at Ramstein Air Base, Oct. 8. RAWS maintains the electrical and mechanical components of the communications between air traffic controllers and aircraft.

 

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Venmeir Crowe, 86th Operations Support Squadron radar airfield weather systems technician, left, and Staff Sgt. Christopher Kenny, 86th OSS RAWS supervisor, explain the capabilities of an automated weather station at Ramstein Air Base, Oct. 8. In the past, RAWS consisted of airfield systems and radar systems. Airmen of the two career fields are now trained and capable in all systems across the board.

 

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Christopher Kenny, 86th Operations Support Squadron radar airfield weather systems supervisor, stands outside a RAWS shelter on Ramstein Air Base, Oct. 8. Signals generated from the shelters are picked up by portable instrument receivers and can be used to calibrate instrument landing systems. RAWS supports Air Traffic Control and Airfield Management operations by maintaining and repairing the electrical and mechanical components of communication lines.

 

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Christopher Kenny, 86th Operations Support Squadron radar airfield weather systems supervisor, works on an Air Traffic Control Tower radio at Ramstein Air Base, Oct. 8. The RAWS team is responsible for maintaining the main radios that interface communication between air traffic controllers and pilots. This effort ensures reliable and seamless communication for the Airfield Operations Flight. 

 

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Venmeir Crowe, 86th Operations Support Squadron radar airfield weather systems technician, calibrates the instrument landing system using a portable instrument receiver at Ramstein Air Base, Oct. 8. The more accurate the degree marker is for the ILS, the more reliable it will be. To support Ramstein’s airlift mission, RAWS is on call 24/7 to maintain communication lines within airfield operations.

 

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Christopher Kenny, 86th Operations Support Squadron radar airfield weather systems supervisor, left, and Senior Airman Venmeir Crowe, 86th OSS RAWS technician, work in an instrument landing system remote check and training room at Ramstein Air Base, Oct. 8. The ILS provides horizontal and vertical pinpoint accuracies for pilots to land. RAWS is one of three sections making up the Airfield Operations Flight, which comprises more than half of the 86th OSS.
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