Air Force Flight Standards Agency owns rules, regulations of flight
Brandice J. Armstrong, Staff Writer
Tinker Take Off
9/3/2009

Imagine an airfield. Aircraft taxi along the runway discussing clearances
with air traffic controllers. Ground-flight operators drive the flight line
ensuring the lights and navigation aids work and business can continue as
scheduled. Their routines are possible because of the Air Force Flight
Standards Agency.

Headquartered at an office building on Mid-America Boulevard in Oklahoma
City, the agency employs approximately 160 people. While half are in the
office building, others work at Bldg. 201W on base and the Federal Aviation
Administration’s Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center on S. MacArthur
Boulevard in Oklahoma City. And, the agency will soon take on more
responsibility to better benefit the Air Force.

“What we do encompasses everything in the realm of flight,” said AFFSA
Commander Col. Fred Armstrong.

“Everything” includes five directorates — flight operation standards;
airfield and air traffic control; requirements and sustainment; instrument
procedure center; and air traffic systems — and the mission to maximize
effectiveness of global air operations.

“AFFSA is kind of behind the scenes because everybody thinks of the
fighters coming in or the cargo plane, but without AFFSA, none of that
happens safely, or at night or in the weather,” Col. Dan Groeschen, AFFSA
director of Operations.

“We own the regulations, we write the rules, we set the standards, we
enforce the standards and we get the money to support that for every major
command,” Colonel Groeschen said. “We are one-stop shopping for aviation
for the Air Force. The whole goal is safety of flight.”

AFFSA relocated to Tinker in 2006 from Andrews Air Force Base, Md., as a
result of the Base Realignment and Closure initiative. Colonel Armstrong
said overall the move benefited the organization.

“It put us all together and puts us with FAA, so we can do our military
thing and then cross-pollinate and work with the FAA,” said Colonel
Armstrong. Colonel Groeschen agreed.

“From a taxpayer’s perspective, the FAA has been able to reduce manpower
because of what they leverage from us and the synergies they gain from us
as well,” he said. “It’s a win for the Department of Transportation and the
Department of Defense having this collective organization.”

Yet, one ever-present AFFSA challenge of working closely with the FAA is
coordinating the federal aviation’s regulations while still upholding the
military’s rules.

Colonel Groeschen said a perfect example is the FAA doesn’t permit two
commercial aircraft to touch while in flight, but that is a common sight
within the Air Force. After all, a KC-135 Stratotanker’s mission is
air-refueling.

Lt. Col. Ed O’Connor, AFFSA director of Airfield and Air Traffic Control
Standards, said another challenge is transitioning out the old equipment
and systems while integrating the new gear and simultaneously performing
the mission.

In addition to the unit’s day-to-day tasks, officials are looking to expand
the responsibilities. In the next year-and-half, Colonel Armstrong said
AFFSA will stand up the Instruments and Procedures Center. The organization
will be made up of Airmen from other major commands who will work the
approach aspect.

Additionally, in the next year, AFFSA will start moving its employees to
their new home at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center. Colonel Armstrong
said crews are working to refurbish the building and add space. By fall
2010, the facility should be ready and AFFSA personnel should begin
relocating.