MUGU CROWS ROOST: Visit to ATAC for Lunch and Learn Session
On April 3, the Mugu Crows met for a Lunch and Learn program to learn about ATAC’s (Airborne Tactical Advantage Company) Flight Operations and EW pod missions. The visit was hosted by Mr. Matthew "Yort" Pearce recently arrived from southern Florida to West Coast Operations branch at Point Mugu, CA. Our orientation began with "Yorts" overview of ATAC and their operational missions and global presence in six bases distributed in Europe and the Pacific. He discussed their 16 years of experienced aviation support and dependable service to NAVAIR and the DoD.

"Yort" discussed the variety of support their customers have come to rely on, because ATAC has that experience in their cadre of pilots that perform the various missions and maintenance support crews that keep the various foreign aircraft flying.

"Yort" took us on a tour of the flight line and pointed out the variety of aircraft and different systems that were being prepared for one of their customer requirements later in the day. From the West Coast Operations branch at Point Mugu, CA, they are able to provide training to ship-crews from San Diego to Washington state, and beyond. In the maintenance section of the hangar, "Yort" pointed out the prechecks being conducted on the engine of a recently arrived aircraft, by the ATAC maintenance team. The tour included the Hawker Hunter, the Israeli Kfir, and the Czech Republic L-39 Albatross. The AN/ALQ-167 Electronic Warfare pod general characteristics and general customer use were answered by the EW pod representative.

The Lunch and Learn session was attended by several Mugu Crows Roost alumni, current members and prospective members currently working on EW programs at Pt. Mugu, CA. "Yort" concluded our visit with a round of questions and answers, and an invite to "stick around" for the incoming flights and his launch for a training mission later that afternoon to an area around San Diego, CA.

Photo: ATAC mechanics prepare to upload a AN/ALQ-167 Electronic Warfare pod on an ATAC Hawker Hunter aircraft.