Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      An F-16 Fighting Falcon is caught by the Mobile Aircraft Arresting System during a test of its operational functionality March 20, 2015 at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan. The MAAS was from a separate taxiway as part of the construction of an alternate runway at Bagram. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. James Law/released)Second runway increases Bagram capability
                        
                        
                        An F-16 Fighting Falcon is caught by the Mobile Aircraft Arresting System during a test of its operational functionality March 20, 2015 at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan. The MAAS was from a separate taxiway as part of the construction of an alternate runway at Bagram. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. James Law)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

Second runway increases Bagram capabilityPublished April 9, 2015
                    
                    By 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
            **BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan (AFNS) --**After months of planning and construction, the wing expanded its ability to support flying missions throughout the region with the addition of a second operational runway. The ancillary runway provides an alternate site for aircraft taking off and landing should the primary runway be damaged or closed.
The need for an additional runway was first recognized during the third quarter of 2014 and quickly became a priority for several agencies throughout the wing.
“Last fall, the 455th Expeditionary Operations Group held an exercise simulating the closure of the primary runway,” said Lt. Col. Shelly Mendieta, the 455th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron commander. “In this scenario, aircraft needed to land at Bagram before the runway could be re-opened. The 455 EOG, 455 EOSS, (455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron) and the (455th Air Expeditionary Wing) safety office secured Taxiway Juliet while (455th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron) barrier maintenance strung expeditionary cable across the taxiway. Once complete, Bagram tower was able to use the Juliet Emergency Landing Surface.”
Though the solution sufficed, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing leadership sought to save time, mitigate risk and reduce manpower needed to prepare and secure an alternate landing site. Once all the options were examined, Taxiway Zulu was selected for runway conversion.
“After the exercise, we wanted to find a way to decrease the risk of landing on a secondary surface and minimize the time and manpower needed to sterilize and prepare the taxiway for landing,” Mendieta said. “Additionally, we wanted a way to decrease or eliminate effects on Air Tasking Order operations during runway closures. Converting Taxiway Zulu to a runway meets those goals.”
Once the determination was made, organizations collaborated to transform Taxiway Zulu to runway 03L/21R.
“The first step was accessing the pavement evaluation report determining types of aircraft and stress loading the new runway could handle,” Mendieta said. “Then 455 EOSS and 455 ECES developed an action plan ensuring the runway was properly painted, mandatory signs were installed and coordinated additional airfield waivers with (Air Force Central Command).
“Lastly, and the most difficult challenge, 455 ECES transplanted the Mobile Aircraft Arresting System (MAAS) from Taxiway Juliet to Runway 03L,” Mendieta continued. “Barrier Maintenance personnel often go through their whole career without installing a new barrier system and 455 ECES executed it perfectly as demonstrated by an F-16 (Fighting Falcon) engaging the system at 100 knots.”
As wrinkles in the planning phase were ironed out behind the scenes, Airmen assigned to the 455 ECES began construction on the flightline.
“My team did all the painting to get Zulu in regulations to include Visual Flight Rules hold lines, center lines, edge lines, leading taxiway lines, runway identifications and more,” said 1st Lt. Agustus Harilall, the 455 ECES Operations Flight commander. “We were also tasked to move the MAAS off Juliet Taxiway to Zulu Taxiway. Repairs were done to the pavement to make sure it was safe for aircraft movement. All Federal Aviation Administration/User Flow Control signage was fabricated and ordered to make 03L/21R fully operational. Expeditionary airfield lighting systems were also installed.”
With planning, construction, and operational checks complete, 03L/21R has been christened an active runway.
“Bagram is the busiest airfield in Afghanistan, so adding the capability of a second runway allows us to continue to support contingency operations 24/7, 365 days a year,” Mendieta said. “In the event that the primary runway is closed due to an emergency, damage, or normal maintenance, Bagram Air Traffic Control can now use 03L/21R as the active runway. Bagram Air Field will still be able to provide airpower to the combatant commander. Whether the tasking is a planned ATO mission or an immediate response, the field will be prepared.”construction 



flightline 



455th ECES 



Afghanistan 



Bagram Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                Kendall, Allvin, Saltzman urge modernization while warning Senate of delayed budgets
                    
                    Readout of Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall’s travel to the Philippines
                    
                    Air Force senior leaders visit Eielson AFB
                    
                    Air Force leaders focus on ACE during Kadena AB visit
                    
                    USAF senior leaders visit Mariana Islands on ACE tripInnovation
                F-16s arrive to be modified for autonomous testing
                    
                    AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalistsMAJCOM News
                Cope Tiger concludes in Thailand
                    
                    Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil