Photo By Sgt. Jeffrey Anderson | Maj. Michael Nesbitt, a pilot with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232, lands and...... read more read more
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CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan – Two F/A-18 Hornets screamed onto the runway here, June 30, marking yet another “first,” in this historic deployment for the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward): a safe landing thanks to newly-installed arresting gear to catch the fast-movers.
The Hornets, flown by Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 based at Kandahar Air Field, face a rigorous and unforgiving environment, making the arresting gear a possible ‘saving grace’ should pilots need it.
Afghanistan’s dynamic, rapid weather patterns and rough environment can cause increased wear on jets. Brakes failures, hydraulic system issues or even bad weather may cause aircraft to divert and take arrested landings. Arresting gear can provide a safe way for pilots to land without relying on potential faulty brakes, or when critical components of an aircraft have failed.
"Arrested landings are the norm on aircraft carriers, here at the field I have taken an arrested landing on occasion due to hydraulic and braking issues; it's vital to stopping the aircraft safely in the event of an emergency or short runway," said Maj. Michael Nesbitt, one of the pilots with VMFA-232 who performed the arrested landings.
Pilots use “traps” aboard aircraft carriers because of the shorter runways. The system works by transferring the energy of the plane to the arresting engines, which slows the aircraft in a fluid, controlled manner. Arresting gear can halt jets on runways fewer than 1,000 feet in length – a significant reduction in “roll out,” or the distance needed for the fast-movers to stop. It can also be used for emergency landing situations.
The arresting gear here took weeks to install. Then, the night before the test, 13 maintenance Marines from VMFA-232, flew to Dwyer Air Field to help operate the equipment, facilitate the landings, inspect the planes after they touched down and re-launch them.
Dozens of VMFA-232 Marines woke early and began scouring the flight line and taxi ways for foreign object debris; then they cleaned, prepared and assisted in starting the arresting gear.
The Marines pulled the deck pendant - the wire stretching between the arresting engines - taunt across the runway. They used tires to prop the wire several inches off the ground so it would easily feed into a catch hook on the back of the jet. Once done, the Marines established a safety perimeter, pushing spectators away from the expeditionary flight line in case the cable snapped. After a short delay, the two jets roared in overhead, banked hard left to downwind and set up for their landings. The first Hornet touched down and grabbed the cable without problem, and in less than three minutes the crew reset the catch cable and guided in the second jet.
"With a good crew, it should take a little more than two minutes to unhook a jet and have the gear reset and ready for the next landing," said Sgt. Chance Chambers, the runway crew leader for Marine Wing Support Squadron 274. "Today went really well, actually. It took just over two minutes between each jet. My Marines surprised me today."
Chance and his Marines spent more than 1,100 hours in the searing heat installing the arresting gear.
The pilots took a short break on the ground, leaving their cockpits and thanking the Marines for their handwork. Less than half an hour later, both jets streaked off the runway for home, feeling safer knowing they have a safe place to land should the ruthless environment create the need.
| Date Taken: | 07.06.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 07.06.2010 08:46 |
| Story ID: | 52414 |
| Location: | CAMP DWYER, AF |
| Web Views: | 824 |
| Downloads: | 333 |
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