Kingpins of Airspace Control

A team of six Australians is working within the US-led unit providing airspace control for the air campaign to defeat Daesh.

‘KINGPIN’ is a control agency managed by the United States Air Force’s 727th Expeditionary Air Control Squadron, and includes Royal Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force personnel in its ranks.

Working from Australia’s main air operating base in the Middle East Region, KINGPIN has a constant live picture of the airspace over Iraq and Syria, the Gulf, and Afghanistan.

It draws on sensors spread throughout the region, including ground-based radars, air traffic control systems, and networked surveillance platforms like Australia’s own E-7A Wedgetail.

Coalition aircrew, including Australia’s Air Task Group 630, rely on KINGPIN for battlespace control and management so that they can carry out their mission.

With this awareness, the aircraft are able to provide support to Iraqi Security Forces in reclaiming their territory from Daesh terrorists.

Detachment commander for the current Australian rotation at KINGPIN, Squadron Leader N, said there could be upwards of 60 Coalition aircraft being managed at a time.

“The aircraft all have different capabilities and requirements, are departing from different airfields, with differing approvals for where and how they can operate,” SQNLDR N said.

“KINGPIN is providing crews in theatre with airspace clearances, safe transit instructions, mission changes, fuel changes, and drawing their attention to traffic, threats, and weather.”

“There’s also requirement for us to coordinate de-confliction of Restricted Operating Zones, task instructions for targeting, and other mission critical information.”

As an example, KINGPIN needs to ensure aircraft like unmanned aerial vehicles remain clear when strike aircraft are delivering munitions in support of Iraqi Security Forces.

In turn, the strike aircraft may need to be directed to the nearest available refuelling tanker, or vectored through airspace to return to base.

All the while, KINGPIN keeps Coalition aircrew aware of civilian airliners or other regional forces, and ensures they do not cross restricted airspace or national borders.

KINGPIN’s Australian members are Air Battle Managers and Air Surveillance Operators with experience in No. 41 and No. 42 Wing, and they fulfil roles that that include the Senior Director, Weapons Director, Air Surveillance Officer, and Surveillance Technician.

“We don’t always work altogether as a team of Aussies – we integrate daily, with Coalition partners during each shift, many nations all working to achieve the same outcome,” SQNLDR N said.

“Through integrating together each day, we have developed an outstanding working relationship. Although we all have vastly different backgrounds, speak different forms of English, and display different mannerisms, skills and capacity, we see the mission through as a team”.

“Our people are highly skilled, competent and work hard, which has earned and maintained an outstanding reputation for Australians within the unit.”

KINGPIN also remains in close contact with the Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC), which plans the tasking for the air campaign, and is often the approving authority for striking targets.

Some days see missions go to plan, with few changes to tasking for all sorties.

“Although we are still controlling a large number of aircraft as a team, operations can be fairly straightforward,” SQNLDR N said.

Circumstances on the ground and in the air however are more often than not are quite dynamic, requiring KINGPIN controllers to be masters of tactical problem-solving.

“This job on most days is one of the most complex around – we’re managing aircraft, talking on the radio, thinking on our feet,” SQNLDR N said.

“If a tanker is unserviceable or delayed, then we dynamically change the air refuelling times, or find vital fuel from available airborne tankers to keep strike assets airborne, often moving available tankers to follow strike aircraft.”

“We’re also executing theatre procedures, keeping up with changes, monitoring radios, identifying the air picture, monitoring rules of engagement, and relaying and reporting information via chat and voice.”

“It is complicated, but you figure out quickly how to solve problems, make smart decisions and to ask the right questions.

The size, tempo and complexity of the KINGPIN mission is significantly bigger than what the controllers ordinarily face on day-to-day work in Australia.

“Our experience with KINGPIN provides us with a unique skillset, greatly enhanced situation awareness and capacity, and a greatly enhanced knowledge of different aircraft and capability,” SQNLDR N said.

“It’s allowed us to integrate with Coalition counterparts, and provides us with invaluable experience on return to Australia.”

Coming to KINGPIN requires the controllers to undertake a three-week pre-deployment course at the Surveillance and Control Training Unit (SACTU) at RAAF Base Williamtown.

“Pre-deployment comprises of theatre specific briefings which look at the regional airspace construct, further development of battle-space management techniques within theatre and the restricted operating zone de-confliction management,” SQNLDR N said.

“There’s also briefings specific to the aircraft in theatre – such as managing air-to-air refuelling tankers, close air support and strike aircraft capabilities, and other specialised roles.”

The pre-deployment training culminates with up to 12 mission rehearsal simulations.

“This gets the team familiar with the Area of Operations, builds Crew Resource Management, develops a team dynamic, and makes us familiar with the KINGPIN standard operating procedures,” SQNLDR N said.

“This training does a great job at preparing the team, however because of how quickly the war is changing, once in theatre we still have a lot learn, but we are well ahead of the curve.”