A mobile advising team of USAF air advisors are working with
Afghan air traffic controllers and pilots to curb a spike in hazardous traffic
reports within the Afghan Air Force, according to a recent
release.
A total of 19 hazardous traffic reports were recorded in January and February
at the Jalalabad Train, Assist, Advise Command, presenting a “major collision
hazard” for US and NATO aircraft as well as fixed-wing aircraft flying from
Jalalabad, said Capt. Benjamin Sherman, a TAAC-Air safety advisor. “The Afghan pilots at
Jalalabad are very skilled aviators; however, they lacked English
comprehension, and specifically, aviation English,” said Sherman. “Critical
instructions such as ‘hold short’ or runway directions were not understood by
the Afghan aviators. It was clear that the Afghans were not disregarding
instructions intentionally; they just didn’t comprehend what was being asked of
them.” Many of the experienced Afghan pilots learned to fly when
international standard communications for air traffic control were not being enforced,
states the release. TAAC-Air advisors partnered with air controllers at
Jalalabad to develop a week-long English class focused on aviation terms and are seeing some success. TAAC-Air
advisors intend to follow up with ground classes and flying training in the
future.