Harris Tactical Radios Give Air Force Controllers the Ability to Manage Inflow of Relief Efforts at Haiti Airport

A group of U.S. Air Force specialists faced a unique challenge immediately upon their arrival in Haiti to assist in the country's recovery from the devastating Jan. 12 earthquake.

The specialists, trained in establishing airfield operations, discovered that airspace around the International Airport in Port-Au-Price was uncontrolled - causing needless confusion and delays in relief flights. The earthquake has destroyed much of Haiti's critical communications infrastructure.

So the specialists did what they are trained to do: Establish working airfield operations when confronted by difficult or challenging conditions.

Reports indicated that the airmen began controlling aircraft into Haiti within about a half hour after their arrival. In the two weeks since, according to the U.S. Air Force, the controllers' efforts have made the Haiti airport the busiest it has ever been. The early days of the Haitian relief effort have been compared to the Berlin Airlift, with aircraft landing every five minutes, according to the Air Force.

The work of the controllers was made possible in part with an assist from Harris Corporation. The controllers are using the Harris Falcon AN/PRC-117 manpack and AN/PRC-152(C) handheld radios, according to photos made public by the Department of Defense on Jan. 24. Both radios enable ground-to-air radio communication over long distances, allowing controllers to contact incoming aircraft.

According to reports, the specialists may soon be moving onto other tasks. Construction is underway on a temporary air traffic control tower.