Romanian Air Force controllers from the Control Reporting Centre CRYSTAL in Bucharest that direct the deployed RAF Typhoons when they are in the air during their NATO enhanced Air Policing mission have visited the RAF’s 121 Expeditionary Air Wing.
The Romanian Air Force controllers, or more properly called Airspace Battle Managers, visited 121 Expeditionary Air Wing at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, to meet the RAF pilots and personnel they work with during RAF Quick Reaction Alert sorties that are controlled from Control Reporting Centre CRYSTAL. This meeting gave the Romanian Air Force personnel a greater understanding of how the RAF and their Typhoons are operating to deliver the NATO enhanced Air Policing mission in Romania.
Control Reporting Centre CRYSTAL is the main Romanian Air Force tactical air command and control centre for Romania and is fully integrated into the Southern NATO Combined Air Operations Centre at Torrejon in Spain. This means Control Reporting Centre Crystal controls the majority of military aircraft operating in the skies over Romania including the Typhoons of IX (Bomber) Squadron conducting the NATO air mission and ensures that information on the sortie is also fed back to NATO.
"As NATO celebrates 60 years of Air Policing we are proud to be a part of it and are very happy to be working closely alongside the RAF who are supporting us in the NATO enhanced Air Policing mission."
Commander Dumitru Bucatariu
Romanian Air Force Master Controller
RAF Air Operations controllers and surveillance staff from 121 Expeditionary Air Wing are also working at the Control Reporting Centre in Bucharest. Acting as the key RAF Liaison they are responsible for ensuring critical mission information is passed on to and from the chain of command.
Throughout the RAF deployment since April 2021 the RAF staff have been working alongside their Romanian counterparts to provide tactical control to the RAF Typhoon jets and Romanian fighters scrambled to intercept suspect aircraft or conducting other missions.
Flying Officer 'Tommo' Thompson is the lead RAF Liaison Officer at Control Reporting Centre CRYSTAL.
"We are delighted to be working alongside our Romanian allies. Throughout our time working in Control Reporting Centre CRYSTAL supporting the enhanced Air Policing mission, we have learnt a lot, refined our working practices and made some lasting friendships. This great working relationship and the strong interoperability that we have built up over these last few months has laid the foundations for successful future missions when we return to Romania."
Flying Officer Thompson
RAF Liaison Officer, Control Reporting Centre CRYSTAL
