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New system 'sheds light' on short-field, combat landings

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. A.C. Eggman
Thanks to a new runway lighting system, McChord C-17 Globemaster III aircrews soon will have another place to practice combat, short-field and night landings.

There is only one assault landing field in the northwest, and thats Moses Lake, said Capt. Mark Anderson, 62nd Operations Support Squadron airfield operations commander.

All of that is about to change with the Assault Landing Zone lighting system being installed here.

The concept came from a meeting about a year ago when we knew the runway was going to undergo rehabilitation, said John Ryan, 62nd OSS air space manager. Members from the 62nd OSS and 62nd Civil Engineer Squadron worked to determine if it would be possible to place permanent lighting fixtures on the runway. The fixtures would operate independent of other airfield lighting.

The project was completed in three phases in conjunction with the repairs on each section of runway. On-site construction was completed Sept. 2.

The new system, which costs about $700,000, will only be usable at night. Once operational crews request to make an assault landing, they will see the main runway lights go out and see only a 90 foot wide by 5,000 foot long landing zone.

The design of the C-17 Globemaster III allows the aircraft to operate on small, austere airfields. The C-17 can take off and land on runways as short as 3,000 feet and only 90 feet wide, even though its wingspan is 170 feet.

This [new system] will allow aircrews to fill a training square when they return from any channel mission or allow us to conduct assault training here when weather or traffic conditions will not allow it at Moses Lake, said Mr. Ryan.

The new system includes infrared lights, which will allow aircrews to practice Night Vision Goggle and assault landings, as well. The NVG lighting will provide aircrews with a 1,000 feet covert landing zone.

All lights will be turned off and the only thing the aircrews and the controllers will be able to see is that stripe of lighting, said Captain Anderson.

Installed in the runway surface, the light fixtures have to be strong, flat and able to withstand being run over by an aircraft.

The fixtures we used are normally used as centerline lights, said Mr. Ryan.

This type of fixture displays the light in a smaller beam. The lights are not visible when the aircraft is parallel to the runway or on downwind; however, the lights will come into view when the aircraft is on final approach.

According to Captain Anderson, no other base has this type of runway lighting configuration.