An air traffic controller monitors aircraft flying in and out of Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan. The Electronic Systems Center recently assisted Air Forces Central to redesign and upgrade the air space approach for aircraft flying over the country to enable more efficient routes and altitudes.  (ISAF Joint Command - Afghanistan photo)

Air Forces Central, with Electronic Systems Center assistance, has prepared an approach that redesigns and upgrades the air space over Afghanistan.

The new approach, which took effect Nov. 17, makes it possible for “en route” commercial airline traffic flying at upper altitudes over Afghanistan to use more efficient routes and efficient altitudes. It also allows the Afghans to catch up with air traffic restructuring occurring world-wide over the past 10 years. Within the air traffic control community, this approach is known as Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM).

RVSM reduces the vertical separation between aircraft flying on the same routes at different altitudes from the Conventional Vertical Separation Minima (CVSM) requirement of 2,000 feet to 1,000 feet at altitudes between approximately 29,000 and 41,000 ft. (More) 

Senatorial visit

Lt. Gen. CR Davis, Electronic Systems Center commander, greets Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts upon his arrival to Hanscom Dec. 2. The senator visited the base to gain a better understanding of the ESC mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Rick Berry)

AFA presents troop support check

Amanda Gustafson, Paul Revere Air Force Association Chapter vice president, presents a $5,000 check to 66th Air Base Group Commander Col Stacy Yike on behalf of Hanscom's deployed troops during the chapter's annual holiday party Dec. 2.  At their second annual Fun Run in November, put on in conjunction with the Bedford VA Hospital, the chapter raised funds for deployed troops and their families.  (Courtesy Photo)

LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, TEXAS - Airman 1st Class Daniel Johnson, client systems technician, explains the Cryptologic System Division's Client Support Center, Network Support Center, Information Assurance Office and Asset Inventory Management to military spouses during an inaugural Spouses' Day Dec. 2. The attendees received a mission brief by Col. Christopher Kinne, CPSD chief, and briefings and tours on IA, Operations Management, Technical Applications, Logistics, Space Communications Security, Maintenance and CPSD’s Information Technical Assistance Center. When the event wrapped up, Master Sgt. Tim Crouch, Space COMSEC Superintendent, said, “We had a very positive response from those that attended and I think the word will spread that this is worthwhile, to give our spouses insight into what we do." (U.S. Air Force photo by Larry Kishur) 

                                                                                        AFCEA honors "unsung heroes"

Rich Lombardi (left), Electronic Systems Center executive director, presents Laura Gourgas of the Manpower and Personnel Directorate with a jacket provided by the Lexington-Concord Chapter of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association during the chapter's holiday gathering Dec 7.  Scott Hardiman, Chapter vice president, and Col. Tim Nickerson, ESC chief of staff look on. Gourgas was named the ESC Staff "Unsung Hero."  Other unsung heroes recognized were: Erin Donlan from the Battle Management Directorate; Robert Kasprzak from Enterprise Information Directorate; Mary Zeger from the Cyber and Net-centric Directorate; Carol Bevis from the C2ISR Directorate; and Lisa Pizarro from the Air Base Group. Also, Jeff Katz was recognized by the chapter as their unsung hero.  (U.S. Air Force photo by JC Corcoran)