LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Capt. Sebastian Constable, 434th Flying Training Squadron T-6 Texan II instructor pilot and category check ride pilot, was chosen by Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, leadership to be the “XLer,” for the week of Sept. 8.
The “XLer” award, a wing-level program sponsored by Col. Charles Velino, 47th Flying Training Wing commander, and presented by Col. Robert Pekarek, 47th Operations Group commander, is presented to those who consistently make outstanding contributions to their unit and Laughlin’s mission.
Constable, an instructor pilot on Laughlin, serves as the 47th Flying Training Wing’s representative at the pilot training program in Vance Air Force Base, Okla. At Vance, he helped instruct 13 flights of student pilots at a time the Air Force is ramping up pilot demand.
“I was very excited for the opportunity to fly at Vance, and I learned a lot by sharing different perspectives with IPs at Vance,” Constable said. “In the end I think it will make me a better-rounded IP.”
Laughlin, being one of the Air Force’s busiest runways, is more prone to accidents. That’s where Constable, leading a four member runway supervisory unit controller team, worked to supervise more than 1,400 movements and rapid upgrades to ensure safe operations and proper use of resources.
“Being an RSU controller is all about leading a team, and what I would encourage new controllers to focus on is empowering their teammates to provide as much situational awareness to the controller as possible,” Constable said.
He also resolved an in-flight emergency resulting from total engine malfunction. His actions saved the lives of two pilots, and nearly $4.5 million worth of assets.
“During my IFE, I noticed that the engine was not spooling up at the same rate as normal,” Constable said. “I declared an emergency and flew a precautionary emergency landing.”
For helping his squadron tirelessly in graduating the most military pilots quickly and safely, Constable is this week’s “XLer”.