Osan runway repairs slated, aircraft operate off station
PACAF News
Release Date: 9/11/2003
By 1st Lt. Tom Montgomery 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
OSAN AIR BASE, Republic Of Korea -- The Osan runway will close Sept. 18 for approximately 60 days for repairs and construction that will improve on existing structures.
During that time, the 25th and 36th Fighter Squadrons stationed here will temporarily operate from other locations; most will relocate to Suwon Air Base. HH-60 operations will continue here.
The U-2S that normally operate here will temporarily relocate to Kadena AB, Japan. Government of Japan officials have been informed of the relocation; there will be no appreciable changes at Kadena due to this temporary relocation.
The operational capability of Osan's fighters and reconnaissance aircraft is not going to be degraded by the temporary relocations, Osan officials said.
F-16 and A-10 aircraft that will fly missions from Suwon will abide by the standard quiet hours under which Suwon's 10th Fighter Wing already operate.
The repairs include replacement of concrete slabs, widening of taxiways, runway and taxiway lighting. The overall cost is estimated at about $7 million.
"The contractors will be working seven days a week, sometimes 24 hours a day, to get this done quickly. In addition, they have the entire runway area to call their own with no distractions," said Capt. Jeff Lin, 51st Civil Engineer Squadron chief of construction management. "In the past, we've done spot corrections with other operations going on around us which slowed us down," he said.
Since 1999, spot corrections have been accomplished to fix runway areas requiring immediate attention. The runway was shut down, sometimes on a monthly basis, in those cases, said Captain Lin.
Runway takeoff and landing areas need the most attention. The current repair project should extend runway life five to eight years, said civil engineer officials.
Airmen from Osan will take military transportation to Suwon on a daily basis in order to operate and maintain the aircraft.
The project is contracted to a Korean company through the Army Corps of Engineers. Once repairs are complete, airfield operations at Osan will resume. (Courtesy of Pacific Air Forces News Service)
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