52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany (USAFENS) – As major runway construction begins on Ramstein Air Base, Germany, in support of the Rhein-Main Transition Project, Spangdahlem Air Base celebrated the opening of its remodeled runway Sept 2.

At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, 52nd Fighter Wing Commander, Col. Stephen Mueller, spoke to an audience of local dignitaries, politicians and national reporters about the significance of the improvements made to the base take-off and landing strip.

“In the past fifty years, we have launched numerous missions from this runway in support of both NATO and U.S. Air Force campaigns around the globe, most recently Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom,” said the commander. “ … The reopening of this runway signifies our intention to promote peace and protect those who are denied their liberty and justice.”

Runway renovations here are a key part in the base’s preparation to absorb a portion of Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany’s air mobility mission by the end of 2005. Accepting heavy cargo aircraft, in addition to supporting the base’s A-10 and F-16 fighter missions, required radical changes, such as the construction of larger aircraft parking areas, connecting taxiways and new electrical and drainage systems. While renovations took place, 52nd FW pilots successfully used an alternate taxiway called the NATO parallel, as the runway, which is half the width of the main runway.

Program success depended on the teamwork between the German construction management organization, major command and wing Rhein-Main Transition Project offices and numerous other base agencies.

“If not for the incredible working relationships between these organizations, the process of executing RMTP and operations off the NATO parallel would have been extremely difficult,” said Master Sgt. Anthony Bunch, 52nd Operations Support Squadron airfield manager.

The success didn’t just happen overnight, said Maj. Rob Ricker, 52nd OSS assistant operations officer. Meticulous planning began for the $158 million remodeling project two and one-half years before the first construction sign went up in March. Ricker said the challenge was to simultaneously provide quality control of all of the planned airfield projects, develop a plan to turn a taxiway into a runway and orchestrate the migration to the new landing surface while ensuring flight safety. The goal was to facilitate the construction and continue safe operations while minimizing impact on the flying squadrons. 

Making the base taxiway into a runway meant having to remove more than 300 obstructions, paint airfield markings, and install airfield lighting systems in order to provide a safe operating surface for aircraft, said Bunch.

Local aircraft continued flying without a major accident despite the challenges of operating on a smaller runway very close to flightline facilities and vehicle operations. To ensure safety, experts conducted training for pilots, air traffic controllers and members operating vehicles on and around the airfield. The airfield operations flight choreographed the various construction projects so their affect on the wing’s mission remained minimal.

“Landings weren’t without risk,” said Capt. Bryan Tash, 52nd Fighter Wing flight safety officer and F-16 pilot. “It’s narrow and hilly with visual obstructions. There’s (debris) from construction equipment and vehicles, and delicate aircraft working in close proximity.”

When landing proved too risky due to flight-control issues, pilots diverted to Ramstein AB.

“The runway and surrounding environment are operationally improved and safer for airfield operations,” said Capt. Alfred Allen, 52nd OSS airfield operations flight commander. “Should an aircraft leave the paved surfaces, there will be fewer obstacles for the pilot to be concerned with. The obstructions that remain are frangible, which means they collapse easily should an aircraft strike them.”

The new runway also features 26-foot wide asphalt runway shoulders designed to support the heaviest cargo aircraft with the widest wingspan, the C-5 Galaxy.

“Previously, when heavy aircraft landed here, runway operations were suspended for about 45 minutes until the runway was swept clean of the (debris) blown onto the runway by the aircraft’s wings that extended over the runway edge,” Allen said.

“The shoulders, which widen the runway by 52-feet, will reduce this type of suspension,” added Allen.

The Federal Aviation Administration is conducting a final flight check of the runway until Sept. 10.