As the Zaca Fire burns, the normally sleepy Santa Ynez Airport has become a hub of activity for firefighting crews and the helicopters that provide support in the effort to stem the advance of the fire. Although Santa Ynez is normally an uncontrolled airport the Forest Service has contracted with a private firm to provide air traffic control services during these times of high volume helicopter traffic.
Titus “Stretch” Gall, 58 of Meadow Vista, California provides private air traffic control services with his own company, Tower Tech Inc. With shoulder length hair and standing 6’5” it’s easy to see why Gall got the nickname of, “Stretch.” After a 30-year career with the Federal Aviation Administration as an air traffic controller Gall designed and had built a portable airport control tower allowing him and his crew of retired controllers to set up operations remotely within a few hours of receiving the call.
Looking much like an RV that is to be towed behind a pick-up truck, the portable control tower contains a glass cab for controller operations that provides a 360-degree view through tinted and tempered glass and enough room for two seated controllers. Provided with computer hook ups, wind and altimeter readings, and two-way aviation radios, controllers can provide air traffic services for the local airport area. The rear portion of the portable tower is a living area with beds, shower/lavatory, kitchen, and desk area.
Working the mixed helicopter and fixed wing air traffic with Gall on the afternoon of July 11th was Bill Lichty, 53, of Drytown, CA, also a retired FAA air traffic controller. After 32 years with the FAA Lichty retired from government work but continued with his special skill set with Tower Tech as a controller.
Tower Tech contracts with the Forest Service to provide remote air traffic control services as well as private events such as air shows. The Tower Tech crew totals five controllers with Stan Dodge, Mark Thacker, and Gary Shimon.
The View From Above
When considering what most attracts pilots to flying, perhaps the first thing on that list would be the view we have from the cockpit. The literally, bird-eye view, from several hundred, to several thousand feet is not only breathtaking, but also inspirational.
When flying above a cloud layer with the sun at the viewer’s back, a pilot will often see a “pilot’s rainbow” on the cloud deck below. The effect of having the sun’s rays refract off the water vapor in the cloud causes this spectacular effect and follows the aircraft across the cloud deck regardless of the aircraft’s speed.
The view the pilot enjoys varies depending on the altitude. Pilots flying jets and other very high altitude aircraft have a view that stretches for hundreds if not a thousand or more miles. Pilots of military reconnaissance aircraft have reported seeing the curvature of the earth from altitudes in excess of 100,000 feet. Flying over the mountains and deserts of the southwest US provides vistas such as the San Andreas Fault and the Grand Canyon, two geological locations that are most fully appreciated when viewed from above.
Flying lower and slower provides outstanding views for the pilots of lower performing aircraft. Within a few hundred feet of the ground pilots still are able to enjoy the sights that we all normally see, except from that perspective of above it all. Houses look different; fields and towns take on new perspectives. Even the birds have to take evasive action as this new motorized bird shares their airspace making for interesting maneuvers on their part.
Flying over the local coastline schools of dolphin can be seen plying near the kelp beds. Whales during the migration seasons are always easy to spot near the beaches during their treks through the Santa Barbara Channel. Pelicans flying in formation stay in formation as the faster aircraft overtakes and passes.
Local ridgelines and mountains are covered with oak forests, cliffs, and meadows making for a varied and colorful splash of green and tan. Sheer rock faces in the local hills drop hundreds of feet to forests below.
Man made wonders abound in the local flying area. Green vineyards compete with yellow and purple fields of flower rows. Huge and magnificent estates abound in the area from the canyons near the beaches to the vineyards and ranches of Los Alamos.
Fly Safe,
Robert "Captain Bob" Perry
Titan Tornado II SS N899HC