New training fills the spot for 435 CTS

Photo By Senior Master Sgt. Robert Webb | Airmen assigned to the 435th Construction and Training Squadron participate in training for the new Rapid Airfield Damage Repair technique on Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Feb. 20, 2017. The RADR technique makes it possible for teams to repair 120 craters in six-and-a-half hours with 3,000 aircraft passes, which provides a ten-time increase in crater amount and 300-time increase in passes allowed over the current method. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Robert Webb)  

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, RHEINLAND-PFALZ, GERMANY

02.20.2017

Story by Senior Airman Tryphena Mayhugh 

86th Airlift Wing

Airmen assigned to the 435th Construction and Training Squadron participated in training for the new Rapid Airfield Damage Repair technique Feb. 20.

During the one-day exercise, the Airmen cleared and filled nine craters using the new technique.

“With airfields around the world, there is a need for a quick and efficient process to repair established runways,” said Capt. James Tyhurst, 435 CTS Command Contingency Training Flight commander. “Damage to the runway can cause mission degradation and costly repairs to aircraft if it is not repaired in a timely and efficient manner.”

Using heavy equipment, the Airmen cleared the craters and used special saws to cut a square around it. The excess rubble was then cleared using an excavator and the area was filled with a material that set as a sub-course. After the fill had time to cure, rapid-set concrete was placed on top using a specialized volumetric mixer.

“The current method for repairing craters is considered a temporary fix for single mission types,” Tyhurst said. “The new method answers the call for multiple mission sets and is a semi-permanent response to attacks.”

The current process allows teams to repair 12 craters in four hours with 100 aircraft passes. However, the RADR technique makes it possible for teams to repair 120 craters in six-and-a-half hours with 3,000 aircraft passes.

“When you compare and contrast the differences between the current method and the new, the results are quite startling,” Tyhurst said.
The 435 CTS has a goal of sharing this new procedure with allies.

“In doing this training, the Airmen also commit to bringing the new mind-set and capabilities to our North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies,” Tyhurst said. “It is their hope to build joint training opportunities and build partnership capacity across Europe once the program has been fully fielded.”

Through training such as this, the 435 CTS is striving to make the U.S. Air Force and its allies more efficient in completing the mission.

• Date Taken: 02.20.2017
• Date Posted: 03.22.2017 09:36
• Story ID: 226433
• Location: RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, RHEINLAND-PFALZ, DE