Recollections of an Air Force Airfield Manager: Working with Civil Engineering

For every aircraft that soars into the wide blue yonder, there are many supporting individuals and requirements. From the mechanic that ensures the functionality of the aircraft, to the Air Traffic Controller directing the flight. But nothing can move without a safe and functional airfield.

Assessing the damage from oil under a B-1B Lancer. (Photo by Patrick Leonini)A taxiway intersection sign. The black letter indicates that you are on Taxiway B, while the yellow letter with the arrow indicates that Taxiway C is coming up on the right. (Photo by Patrick Leonini)The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum houses many aircraft that conjure images of daring men and women soaring across the skies. These could range from a small Cessna 180, taxiing along for its pilot training flight or perhaps the CH-46E Sea Knight flying US Marines to combat during the 1968 Tet Offensive in Vietnam. But this is not that story. This is the story of those who work hard on the ground to enable those pilots, crewmembers, and their aircraft to fly.

Before I was a museum specialist for the Museum in the Photography department, I spent 24 years in the United States Air Force. This is the second in a series of stories drawn from my career experience in the military as an airfield manager, working in and around aircraft, crews, and ground support personnel. Part one can be found here.

Working with Civil Engineering

The name of civil engineering (CE) suggests thoughts of major construction projects; many public works across the United States have been built by military civil engineers, such as bridges, piers, dams, and many others. The relationship between the airfield managers and the civil engineers is probably the most important on an airport or airfield. It is through this relationship that the proper planning and construction is carried out to support the flying mission, be it civil or military.

CE is an integral part of the safety of an airport; repairs, maintenance and all major construction projects fall under their responsibilities, and it is through the airfield manager’s efforts that we identify and work together to maintain a safe environment for all air crews and aircraft.

The engineer’s biggest task is always that of new construction. These projects can range from rebuilding a runway, to laying down a new taxiway. Other supporting projects may include new hangars, lighting systems, or underground drainage.

Modern airports rely heavily on their electronic systems, radar, navigational aids, and lights. The maintenance of the airfield lighting system is a tireless and unending job. Airfield managers are constantly inspecting the lighting systems for outages, broken or missing lights. The lighting system also comprises all airfield signs. These signs are critical directional guides for pilots to be able to navigate the airfield’s surfaces. All major airports have these signs, black and yellow for taxiways, and red and white for runways. Once the airfield manager has identified a need for maintenance, the CE dispatcher is notified, and the appropriate team is sent out to accomplish the work. This teamwork is vital to keep the flow of aircraft in and out, especially at busy locations with operations at night and in inclement weather.

The access to electric wires and cables can be a tricky, and on occasions, adventurous ordeal. At one location in the Middle East, we had to venture into a large underground tunnel system that was built as both a vault for the airfield’s electric infrastructure, as well as an underground bomb shelter. Needless to say, these locations can be a bit daunting to navigate.

As airport missions and requirements change, so do the standards to which the pavements and moving surfaces must hold up to. When I was stationed in the United Kingdom, we were faced with the task of adapting a parking ramp for the operations of the CV-22 Osprey. A special feature of this aircraft is the ability of the nacelles (that include the engine and propellers) to rotate, allowing for vertical takeoff. One of the issues this presents is that when the engines are pointed down directly onto the pavement, they emit a great deal of heat, which can melt both asphalt and concrete that is not graded properly. This is where both CE and the airfield manager work hand in hand to ensure the surfaces that the Osprey will operate from are safe and can handle the heat.

Airfield surfaces, like roads, suffer from the wear and tear of use. The critical airfield inspections that the airfield managers complete every day, help to identify locations on the airfield that require the immediate attention of CE. Aircraft are moving mechanical objects, and they leak. Fuel and oil spills are fatal to many types of pavements, especially concrete. Working with the B-1B Lancer, I never knew how much an aircraft could perspire! Every day, the bomber’s crew chiefs would be underneath their aircraft soaking up the oil that seeps out of the wings, tail and fuselage. This is a result of the moving components of the variable-sweep wings that allow it to reach supersonic flight. For the airfield manager and CE, this is a nightmare that eats up the pavement and renders those surfaces dangerous for future use. Immediate cleanup is very important to extend the life of the pavement, but sometimes, entire areas will have to be torn out and repaved.

One of the closest relationships that the airfield manager will have with anyone in CE is the airfield sweeper. Every CE squadron in the Air Force will have at least two or three sweeper trucks with a handful of qualified personnel to operate them. A close and trusting working relationship is necessary to address needs that arise throughout the day. Heavy winds, storms, and oversize aircraft can all contribute to adding (foreign object debris) FOD (read the first blog for more) onto aircraft movement surfaces. The sweeper comes in with its large brushes and vacuum to suck up any debris that is on the pavement. Quick coordination is required, especially when the flying schedule is tight.

CE is an integral part of any airport’s operational and support systems. No flying mission can be accomplished without the vital activities they perform. As someone who has had to honor to work with some amazing individuals and groups during my years in the military, I will always have a special place in my heart for the men and women of the civil engineers!

In a future blog, I will be writing about working with airfield support agencies.