Barrier Maintenance

Airman 1st Class Andrew Cates, 100th CES Barrier Maintenance, performs a visual check on the equipment in one of the barrier shacks on the flightline. A giant reel of 7.75 inch-wide tape, with a maximum pull-out length of 1,200 feet, is part of the BAK-12 equipment in each of the shacks. The tape stretches from inside the shack, goes underground and exits on the side of the runway. There, it is connected to a cable which, when necessary during a barrier engagement, is stretched across the flightline and reconnects to another reel of tape which runs to another barrier shack on the opposite side. Barrier checks are performed daily. Technicians check the oil and perform daily maintenance, which includes checking hydraulic fluid and pressure, and deck sheaves for freedom of operation, to make sure everything is fully operational. The engine inside the shack is started up daily, and runs for about 10 minutes, during which time the engines inside the other shacks are started up and other checks done. During the journey to each shack, the cables are also checked to make sure there are no kinks, bends or tears. After the engine is run for 10 to 15 minutes, the power take-off is engaged, which connects the braking system to the engine. The purpose of the system is to save pilots lives and the aircraft, and works similar to brakes on a car by applying gradual pressure to the brakes, which brings the aircraft to a slow stop. Once the aircraft comes in and hooks onto the cable, it stops within a matter of seconds and within 1,200 feet. (U.S. Air Force photo by Karen Abeyasekere)