The Very Small Aperture Terminal System (VSAT) supports a radio communication instrument allowing remote communication and navigation stations across Iraq to exchange and share information.

Assisting the ICAA in rebuilding the airspace infrastructure here falls under the U.S. State Department, which fosters the relationships needed to rebuild the infrastructure, and the U.S. Air Force, tasked to provide the technical expertise.

The Airspace Planning Office of the Air Component Coordination Element-Iraq was given the responsibility of representing the Air Force in the endeavor. Since 2003, ACCE airspace planners have been working with Iraqi air traffic and communication technicians to rebuild the country's airspace infrastructure.

Capt. Kurando Mensen, a communications officer deployed from Robins Air Force Base, Ga., is the ACCE's communications planner. During his deployment, he has traveled to nine Forward Operating Bases in Iraq and Kuwait to assess, supervise and sometimes repair the air traffic communications systems; particularly the VSAT.

"I've been to some of these places more than once," Mensen said. "The VSAT system is the current backbone of Iraq's civil aviation's air traffic control communications infrastructure."

Currently, the VSAT's capability allows Baghdad to communicate with commercial air traffic flying above 24,000 feet.

Mensen's work has involved not only maintaining this capability, but also working to enhance the VSAT to cover airspace from 24,000 feet down to 15,000 feet.  As U.S. forces eventually withdraw from Iraq, the plan is to further enhance the VSAT's capability to operate at 15,000 feet down to the surface.

"Because of Iraq's location, commercial air carriers would save time and slash fuel costs once they are able to use the Iraq airspace on a frequent basis," Mensen said. "But this depends on the safety and reliability of their air traffic communications system."

The VSAT capability was 50 percent operational before Mensen arrived. In his six months of work, Mensen, a native of Makakilo, Hawaii, established or repaired VSAT systems in Kuwait and throughout Iraq, including Ar Rutbah, Kirkuk, Mosul, Talil and Balad.

A huge part of his job is to develop relationships with the Iraqi citizens who are employed by the ICAA.

"It is this critical part of the job where Capt. Mensen truly shines," said Col. Russ Quinn, the ACCE senior airspace planner. "Capt. Mensen's professionalism and easy-going style have been critical in solidifying our relationship with everyone in the (ICAA)."

For the ICAA technicians, Mensen is not only a communications planner, but also a VSAT trainer. On many occasions, he was able to travel with ICAA technicians to forward locations to repair or rebuild VSAT terminals.

"The (ICAA) technicians are always willing and ready to travel to the various locations as this presents a different challenge than the daily routine in Baghdad," Mensen said.

When he isn't traveling across Iraq to inspect VSAT locations, his time is spent advising and assisting the ICAA technicians in designing and maintaining the VSAT infrastructure.

"Whenever I introduce Capt. Mensen to newly-arrived Airmen, I introduce him as the hardest working captain in the ACCE," Quinn said. "Watching him, and the great men and women here in Iraq, is truly inspiring. This is an amazing team and I am very proud of each one of them."

There's still a lot of work to be done, but the ICAA technicians are ready for the challenge, Mensen said. With a solid infrastructure in place, the country will benefit from a safer and more rewarding airspace.