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NAVFAC Southwest Awards $97 Million Contract for Airfield Construction

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS110929-07
9/29/2011

By Brittany Anderson, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southwest awarded a $97 million contract Sept. 20 to Hensel Phelps Granite Hangar of Irvine, Calif. for the design and construction of an aircraft taxiway expansion, aircraft maintenance hangars addition and new aircraft maintenance construction at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar.

"Parking apron/taxiway expansion will provide approximately 2 million square feet of parking apron for the MV-22 Osprey and the CH-53 aircrafts by replacing the existing westerly asphalt taxiway area with heat resistant concrete parking apron and converting an existing concrete taxiway to parking apron," said Ken Molitor, NAVFAC Southwest design manager for this project. "The parking apron/taxiway expansion will also provide a new compass calibration pad in the vicinity of the westerly apron."

An MV-22 is a medium lift American military, tiltrotor aircraft with both a vertical takeoff and landing and short takeoff and landing capability. It is designed to function like a conventional helicopter and to perform as a turboprop aircraft. Its mission for the U.S. Marine Corps is the transportation of troops, equipment, and supplies from ships and land bases for combat assault and assault support.

A CH-53 is a heavy lift, transport helicopter. The MV-22 are larger and heavier than the CH-46 they will replace. Therefore, the additional apron will be constructed of concrete to handle the weight and the greater heat signature from the jet exhaust being directed down toward the apron surface.

"The aircraft maintenance hangar addition will construct an addition to the existing aircraft maintenance hangar that, once complete, will provide a 76,509 square foot aircraft maintenance hangar for one CH53-K Squadron," said Molitor. "The new aircraft maintenance hangar construction will construct a brand new aircraft maintenance hangar providing 151,600 square feet for two MV-22 squadrons."

The facilities will accommodate the MV-22 squadrons, conduct and maintain the readiness and training operations, and regulate special exercise operations to preserve proficiency in the operational deployment of the MV-22.

"These projects are part of a larger effort, the Headquarters Marine Corps Aviation Plan, to implement the ongoing transition from the CH-46 helicopter to the MV-22 tilt-rotor aircraft on the West Coast under cognizance of Third Marine Aircraft Wing," said Bevin Keen, NAVFAC Southwest design manager for this project. "This award, totaling over $100 million consists of three separate projects, as MCAS Miramar prepares to integrate both MV-22 as well as the CH-53K into their operations."

According to Betty Chu-Chang, NAVFAC Southwest contracting officer for this project, this high dollar value contract will offer opportunities for subcontractors and the small business community which will in turn stimulate our economy.

Work is expected to be completed by September 2014.