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258th Air Traffic Control Squadron operates the airport control tower and new radar providing service to military and civilian aircraft as a function of training their approximate 100 assigned personnel, and others from across the contry, for their military mission – annually the 258th controls 40-50 thousand aircraft movements at the airport. More are expected with new radar service.

Johnstown provides an alternate operating location for Pittsburgh KC-135 refueling aircraft and Harrisburg EC-130J aircraft in case of catastrophic events rendering their home bases unusable.

New ANG Air Traffic Control Radar Significantly Enhances Safety

Flight safety is greatly enhanced for the entire aviation community operating in the local area, both military and civilian operations, as a result of improved lower altitude radar coverage, better weather tracking, and enhanced air traffic control service to individual aircraft.

In addition to the Johnstown airport, air traffic control service is significantly improved for 7 other regional airports within the central Pennsylvania area served by the new radar.

The new radar is able to track weather intensity in 6 graduated levels of severity, significantly increasing the operational benefits during bad weather operations.

Controllers are better able to ensure aircraft maintain safe clearance from the ground in the mountainous terrain of this region.

Increased Training Opportunities

New radar service increases ANG air traffic controller training capacity by more than 50% while offering a multitude of additional training opportunities to military and civilian aircraft.

Air Force Air Traffic Controllers are in high demand for overseas war efforts – in recent years the 258th has deployed more than 80 personnel in total to 15 different locations around the world supporting this country’s combat contingency operations.

Johnstown is the only location where personnel can train on both fixed site radar equipment and mobile deployable equipment used by the military for combat operations at forward bases.

Higher quality, and more varied air traffic control service available to aircraft improves training opportunities in the air and on the ground.

National and State Security

Recent improvements to the Johnstown runaway allow larger military aircraft use setting the stage for PaANG KC-135 and EC-130J contingency operations in the event of natural disasters or other homeland security incidents that shut down the Pittsburgh or Harrisburg airports.

Key staff personnel from these PaANG organizations can quickly and easily relocate to secure 258th facilities to continue their state and federal missions as the situation may dictate.

Military units at the Johnstown airport have billeting, office space, dining facilities and aircraft hangar availability that can sustain contingency operations of these larger aircraft.

Pennsylvania Army National Guard Aviation Role in Johnstown, PA

The United States Army Reserve Center in Johnstown is located at the John Murtha Cambria County Airport. Tenants of the Reserve Center are 1-104 Attack Reconnaissance Battalion (ARB), Detachment 1 Company C 1-169 Air Ambulance, Company A 2nd Battalion 228th Aviation Regiment and the Johnstown Army Aviation Support Facility (AASF).

The purpose of the Army Aviation Support Facility is to support and train Army National Guard Aviators on fundamental and advanced flight and mission skills required when deployed to combat theaters.

Involved in this training are traditional Guard Aviators and support personnel with jobs and families throughout Pennsylvania. The aviators are required to complete approximately 150 flight hours per year and must train in Johnstown more than one weekend a month. When training in Johnstown aviators and support soldiers purchase fuel, food and lodging from the local economy.

The 1-104 ARB flew 3192 Apache and Blackhawk hours in fiscal year 2009. This equates to an average of 5 flights per day. Each flight requires approximately 250 gallons of fuel currently supplied by MTT Aviation.

The 1-104 Attack Reconnaissance Battalion (ARB) employs 27 Active Duty Guard Soldiers, 337 traditional Guard Soldiers and has 16 Apache helicopters stationed in Johnstown. The Army Aviation Support Facility (AASF) employs 111 full time Federal Technicians to support military aviation operations.

Detachment 1 Company C 1-169 Air Ambulance currently has three UH-60 Blackhawks stationed in Johnstown. In the near future the unit will be re-designated Company C 2-104th General Support Aviation Battalion (GSAB) increasing to a total of six UH-60 Blackhawks with a total of forty soldiers. When stateside this unit responds to state and national emergencies. The unit specializes in flood/swift water rescue, search and rescue and forest fires using its 600 gallon aerial water drop bucket. In the past year the Med Det has responded to Hurricane Gustav in Louisiana, supported the 2009 Presidential Inauguration and the G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh.

Also housed in the Johnstown facility are two C-12 fixed wing aircraft that belong to Company A 2nd Battalion 228th Aviation Regiment United States Army Reserve. One is currently deployed in support of the Global War on Terrorism. Company A 2nd Battalion 228th Aviation Regiment conducts on average of four flights per week transporting General Officers, dignitaries, military personnel, and cargo all over the United States.