Captains lauded for watertight air missions
Two captains of the Republic of Korea Air Force have been awarded for their excellent mission performances as air defense weapon directors.
Capt. Lim Ji-hoon and Capt. Park In-yong, on assignments for the Air Force’s Ground Control and Airbon Control, respectively, have been selected as the best two “Golden Eyes” among the 58 participants at the 40th Air Combat Intercept Control Competition held from Aug. 12 to Sept. 11, the Air Force announced Tuesday.
Air defense weapon directors conduct missions directing aircraft of friendly forces to optimal spots to counter unauthorized entry of foreign aircraft into the country’s airspace or the Korean Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ).
“I have experience controlling our military’s aircraft during an unauthorized entry by a neighboring country’s planes into the KADIZ,” said Lim, who has been working at a master control and reporting center (MCRC) for the mission from the ground since 2016.
“I described the proceeding situation to the pilot while notifying the direction, speed and altitude and felt a considerable level of responsibility and tension seeing the pilot respond to my every word. I felt proud to be working on the very front of the air defense of the country.”
Park, who has been assigned to the mission from the Air Force’s E-737 Peace Eye, an airborne early warning and control system, since this year after working at an MCRC for five years from 2014, has also conducted missions over several cases of KADIZ entries by foreign aircraft.
“I feel most fulfilled when the pilot thanks me after we complete our missions working closely together,” he said.