BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan --
After months of planning and construction, the wing expanded
its ability to support flying missions throughout the region with the addition
of a second operational runway. The
ancillary runway provides an alternate site for aircraft taking off and landing
should the primary runway be damaged or closed.
The need for an additional runway was first recognized
during the third quarter of 2014 and quickly became a priority for several
agencies throughout the wing.
“Last fall, the 455th Expeditionary Operations Group held an
exercise simulating the closure of the primary runway,” said Lt. Col. Shelly
Mendieta, 455th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron commander. “In this
scenario aircraft needed to land at Bagram before the runway could be re-opened.
The 455 EOG, 455 EOSS, 455 ESFS [455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron]
and the 455 AEW [455th Air Expeditionary Wing] Safety Office secured Taxiway
Juliet while 455 ECES [455th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron] Barrier
Maintenance strung expeditionary cable across the taxiway. Once complete, Bagram Tower was able to use
the Juliet Emergency Landing Surface.”
Though the solution sufficed, 455 AEW leadership sought to
save time, mitigate risk and reduce manpower needed to prepare and secure an
alternate landing site. Once all the options were examined, Taxiway Zulu was
selected for runway conversion.
“After the
exercise, we wanted to find a way to decrease the risk of landing on a
secondary surface and minimize the time and manpower needed to sterilize and prepare
the taxiway for landing,” Mendieta said. “Additionally, we wanted a way to
decrease or eliminate effects on Air Tasking Order operations during runway
closures. Converting Taxiway Zulu to a
runway meets those goals.”
Once the
determination was made, organizations collaborated to transform Taxiway Zulu to
runway 03L/21R.
“The first
step was accessing the pavement evaluation report determining types of aircraft
and stress loading the new runway could handle,” Mendieta said. “Then 455 EOSS
and 455 ECES developed an action plan ensuring the runway was properly painted,
mandatory signs were installed and coordinated additional airfield waivers with
AFCENT [Air Force Central Command].”
“Lastly,
and the most difficult challenge, 455 ECES transplanted the Mobile Aircraft
Arresting System from Taxiway Juliet to Runway 03L,” Mendieta continued. “Barrier
Maintenance personnel often go through their whole career without installing a
new barrier system and 455 ECES executed it perfectly as demonstrated by an
F-16 engaging the system at 100 knots.”
As wrinkles
in the planning phase were ironed out behind the scenes, Airmen assigned to the
455 ECES began construction on the flightline.
“My team
did all the painting to get Zulu in regulations to include Visual Flight Rules
hold lines, centerlines, edge lines, leading taxiway lines, runway
identifications and more,” said 1st Lt Agustus Harilall, 455 ECES Operations
Flight commander. “We were also tasked to move the MAAS off Juliet Taxiway to
Zulu Taxiway. Repairs were done to the pavement to make sure it was safe for
aircraft movement. All Federal Aviation Administration/User Flow Control
signage was fabricated and ordered to make 03L/21R fully operational.
Expeditionary Airfield Lighting Systems were also installed.”
With
planning, construction, and operational checks complete, 03L/21R has been
christened an active runway.
“Bagram is
the busiest airfield in Afghanistan, so adding the capability of a second
runway allows us to continue to support contingency operations 24/7, 365 days a
year,” Mendieta said. “In the event that the primary runway is closed due to an
emergency, damage, or normal maintenance, Bagram Air Traffic Control can now
use 03L/21R as the active runway. Bagram
Airfield will still be able to provide airpower to the Combatant Commander. Whether the tasking is a planned ATO mission
or an immediate response, the field will be prepared.”