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| Friday, June 29, 2007 |
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BRADSHAW AIRFIELD BUILT IN LESS THAN 4 WEEKS
By FlyingNews @ 11:09 AM :: 142 Views ::
0 Comments :: Military Aviation
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A team of Australian and United States military engineers has successfully built an air strip in less than four weeks capable of taking the giant C-17 Globemaster aircraft at Bradshaw Field Training Area (BFTA) in the Northern Territory.
The Joint Rapid Airfield Construction (JRAC) project team used technologies such as remote control plant equipment, GPS location software and deployable communication systems to build the unsealed landing strip and service aprons. Construction began on 3 June.
The Australian Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Geoff Shepherd joined Commander of the US 7th Fleet, Vice Admiral William Crowder at BFTA for today’s official opening of the airstrip, in which Australian and American C-17s gave the strip its first major test.
“The ADF is still developing Bradshaw Field Training Area, and an airstrip which can accommodate Australia’s newly acquired C-17s is a major boost for the facilities here,” Air Marshal Shepherd said.
“The airfield has now been certified and will be available for future training activities and exercises involving Australian personnel,” Air Marshal Shepherd said.
The exercise has involved 110 Australian personnel and 105 US personnel. Another 20 civilians from US Army Corp’s of Engineers Engineer Research Development Centre have also been involved in the exercise.
This airfield is an example of the type of construction that either United States or Australian engineers would need to undertake to expand a forward base for strategic or heavy lift air transport.
This design provides unloading aprons for two C-17 aircraft with a third aircraft on the runway.
Source: http://www.defence.gov.au |
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