Warriors of the North host first M.A.C.A. Civil Fly-in

by Staff Sgt. Luis Loza Gutierrez
319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

6/18/2014 - GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- About a dozen aircraft lined the flightline here with occupants who were not Air Force pilots or crew, but they were here to do official Air Force business. 

The 319th Air Base Wing Safety Office hosted the 2014 Mid-Air Collision Avoidance program, better known as M.A.C.A., June 14.

"The main purpose of the M.A.C.A. program is to raise awareness on how to avoid mid-air collisions or near mid-air collisions by sharing knowledge about air traffic and airfield operating procedures specific to our local airspace here at Grand Forks Air Force Base," said Lt. Col. Rudolf Kuehne, 319th Air Base Wing chief of safety.

The members of the 319th ABW safety office and the 319th Operations Support Squadron aircraft control tower do monthly visits with flying clubs and organizations which share the local airspace and talk about the hazards that may be encountered in the air such as certain species of migratory birds and lower flying aircraft such as crop dusters and helicopters.

According to members of the 319th ABW safety office this is the first time ever a fly-in for the M.A.C.A. program has taken place on Grand Forks AFB.

It was a fact that caused positive reactions by some fly-in participants.

"I think for me the thing I enjoyed the most was simply being able to land on the base," said Catrina Kugler, one of the flying instructors from the University of North Dakota, who attended the event. "We typically have to fly around the base because of air restrictions, so getting a chance to fly and land here was pretty cool."

The fly-in included more than a typical safety briefing and updates about the local airspace as guests were treated to a tour that featured two of the unmanned aircraft vehicles operated by tenant units on Grand Forks AFB.

"My favorite part of the event was being able to see planes like the UAV aircraft up close," said Erik Breault, another UND flying instructor. "I mean most of the time when people see an aircraft like Global Hawk or Predator; it's usually on TV or the Internet. Here we actually got stand right next to one and see how they really look."

The fly-in also provided an opportunity for guests to meet and interact with fellow aviators who had official ties to one another.

Such was the case for Airmen from the Civil Air Patrol.

Three Happy Hooligans, Capt. Daniel Villas, 1st Lt. Eric Jacobs and 2nd Lt. Graham Frost, from the 119th Air National Guard Cadet Squadron in Fargo, North Dakota, got to meet four other CAP members from North Dakota.

Gregory Weber and Kenneth Kudrna from the Rough Rider Composite Squadron in Dickinson, North Dakota, arrived with their squadron commander, Lt. Col. Ray Thompson, who along with retired Master Sgt. Al Vecchio, North Dakota CAP Wing deputy safety officer, met their fellow CAP Airmen from Fargo.

"Even though we and the other four gentlemen may be part of the North Dakota Civil Air Patrol, we may not always know one another, so event like this fly-in definitely provide a great opportunity to put names to faces, which helps develop communication and camaraderie inside the organization," said Villas.

Although many guests enjoyed the interactive aspect and UAV tour spots of the fly-in, it is safe to say that most in attendance were in agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration and other aviation safety organizations stating that local airspaces around the country are becoming more and more saturated.

"The aviation industry is still growing, especially with the global interests in Unmanned Aircraft Systems," said Kuehne.

"Grand Forks Air Force Base is at the forefront of that growth. We hope that this fly-in will result to in more knowledge about how we can effectively travel in the various aircraft operated in our airspace because through awareness, vigilance, and teamwork, we can make the skies in a North Dakota a safer place to fly."