Al Udeid Airmen conduct first FOD walk on new tactical ramp

More than 100 Airmen gathered to conduct their first Foreign Object Damage walk on a new tactical aircraft ramp at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, on Jan 29, 2015. The new ramp will alleviate the congestion of aircraft being launched and recovered in support of various operations in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Kerry Jackson)

Al Udeid Airmen conduct first FOD walk on new tactical ramp

More than 100 Airmen gathered to conduct their first Foreign Object Damage walk on a new tactical aircraft ramp at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, on Jan 29, 2015.The new ramp will alleviate the congestion of aircraft being launched and recovered in support of various operations in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Kerry Jackson)

Al Udeid Airmen conduct first FOD walk on new tactical ramp

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Janice Jacques, 379th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, and more than 100 Airmen gathered to conduct their first Foreign Object Damage walk on a new tactical aircraft ramp at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, on Jan 29, 2015. The new ramp will alleviate the congestion of aircraft being launched and recovered in support of various operations in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Kerry Jackson)

Al Udeid Airmen conduct first FOD walk on new tactical ramp

Published Jan. 30, 2015
By Master Sgt. Kerry Jackson
379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar -- More than 100 Airmen gathered to conduct their first Foreign Object Damage walk on a new tactical aircraft ramp, Jan. 29, to prevent debris or other objects from damaging aircraft that will be parked here.

The new ramp, which will be primarily used to park tactical aircraft like the C-130 Hercules, will alleviate the congestion of aircraft being launched and recovered here in support of various operations in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

“In the past, we’ve had more aircraft to support than actual parking space, so the new tactical ramp will significantly reduce the gridlock we encounter when launching or recovering aircraft,” said Master Sgt. Kevin Swann, 379th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron superintendent.

With the new tactical ramp, long stand-by times for aircrews will be significantly reduced and often no longer necessary.

“This new ramp, I’m sure, is a welcomed change for the aircrew, who have had to wait extended periods of time on the flight line,” said Swann.

To help expedite the launch and recovery of aircraft, often up to 15 maintainers and several or more vehicles were required to tow aircraft to make-shift ramps on the flight line. According to Swann, the new ramp will reduce the need to tow aircraft by more than 80 percent, which will in turn allow maintainers to focus more of their time on other priorities that ensure aircraft are ready to execute the mission.

“We were towing upwards of thirty to forty aircraft a day and whenever you’re towing that much just to fly thirty or forty aircraft a day it’s not very efficient,” said Swann. “So the efficiency we’re gaining just by opening up this ramp is huge.”

Additionally, the new ramp, which was completed eleven months ahead of schedule, will reduce the number of aircraft maintenance crew and operators required to launch and recover aircraft more quickly and efficiently.

“From an operator and maintainer perspective, the new ramp will reduce the stress load of everyone involved,” said Swann. “It’s something everyone one of us is looking forward to.”

Construction of the tactical ramp was a collaborative effort involving the 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, the 379th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, the 379th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron Air Field Management office and local contractors here.