GTMO Seabees Lend Hands to Operation Unified Response
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS100122-07
Release Date: 1/22/2010 2:56:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Leona Mynes, Naval Station Guantanamo Bay Public Affairs
GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba (NNS) -- Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 25, who are currently deployed to Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, graded a hill Jan. 21 on the Guantanamo airfield to allow large aircraft unobstructed movement when navigating the runways.
The project resulted from a 747 airplane being unable to turn around at the end of the flight line before its scheduled take-off. The plane was carrying pallets of Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) that were being delivered to Haiti in support of Operation Unified Response.
When the aircraft attempted to turn, a 180-foot by 200-foot hill blocked its way.
"We're doing this so that inbound and outbound planes are not impeded by any limitations on the runway," said Chief Builder Christopher Grzebieniek, NMCB 25's operations chief petty officer.
Removing the hill prevented the plane's engine from making contact with the ground.
The Seabees were tasked with the project early Jan. 20. The bulk of the project is ongoing, but the area preventing the 747's movement was clear mid-day Jan. 21.
For more news from Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, visit www.navy.mil/local/guantanamo/.
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