Civil engineers keep ramp safe, airlift mission active

Published June 9, 2010
By Capt. Matt Born
387th Air Expeditionary Group

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- The 387th Expeditionary Support Squadron Civil Engineer team recently performed some critical concrete spall repairs here on the aircraft parking ramp of the busiest Aerial Port of Debarkation in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility ensuring continued operations with zero impact to the air mobility mission.

Concrete spalls are typically caused by moisture and materials entering concrete joints and breaking up areas of concrete, thereby increasing the potential for foreign object debris hazards and failure of the entire concrete slab.

Most of the spalls repaired by the 387th ESPTS were caused by expansion of corroded steel rebar encased in the concrete, forcing the concrete to break. The biggest risk spalls like these pose to aircraft operations are FOD damage to aircraft components and potential tire cuts presented by abrupt edges in the pavement. The primary purpose of repairing spalls on airfield pavements is to reduce the potential for this damage and to prolong the service life of the pavement.

The 387th ESPTS civil engineers accomplished the expedient repairs using rapid-set concrete to minimize parking spot closures. Expedient repairs have a relatively short life, but were necessary to mitigate the current risks. Performing such repairs and maintaining the pavements in workable condition is a task not taken lightly by the civil engineer team.

"Our skilled professionals are more than capable of maintaining the paved areas of our aircraft parking ramp," said 1st Lt. Larry Cornelio, 387th ESPTS CE Operations flight chief.

The repairs were in process for several months to work through materials procurement and equipment purchasing. The planning and budgeting process was a mutual effort between the 387th Air Expeditionary Group with inputs from civil engineering, airfield management, the 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, 386th Expeditionary Contracting Squadron and 5th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron. The equipment used for the repairs was borrowed from across the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, demonstrating the mutual assistance provided within the wing.

Identifying areas on the airfield in need of repairs is tasked to the base airfield manager, Tech. Sgt. Charma Thurmond. Her responsibility extends to daily surveillance and monitoring of airfield conditions, including those of all airfield pavements, markings and operations. Informing leadership of the required priority of the repairs and the safety hazard if unable to perform repairs are important facets of her job.

"Spall repairs remain a necessary recurring requirement, given the current condition and the projected deterioration of the ramp," said Sergeant Thurmond. "Identifying and removing the FOD and tire-cut hazards is the top priority."

With the amount of passenger and cargo through-put experienced by the airfield, keeping the parking spots in serviceable condition is a task that is of the utmost importance. No one realizes this more than the 5th EAMS, the tenant unit tasked with air terminal and ground handling services at the base.

"The operations tempo at this location demands we maintain the working maximum-on-ground, or MOG, capability," said Lt. Col. Michael Carter, 5th EAMS commander. "We are thankful for the support we receive from the 387th [AEG] in maintaining the base infrastructure, especially on the airfield."

The 387th AEG will ensure continued posture for facilitating air mobility operations at the air base. The 387th AEG commander said he is confident in the efforts and abilities of his airfield pavements team.

"Continued safe, efficient through-put will remain the goal," said Col. Randy Davis, 387th AEG commander. "There is no alternative given our military's current airlift priorities. Be it in 110-degree heat or in the middle of the night, our professionals will continue to facilitate mission accomplishment."