One might think when planning for a runway extension that it is as simple as checking items off of a “to do” list. This is hardly the case, as FAA’s Logistics Center‘s Equipment Shelter Team (AML-2070) sprang into action when asked to provide equipment shelters as part of the Oklahoma Aeronautical Commission’s runway extension project at Enid Woodring Regional Airport. The project was sponsored by the FAA Airport Infrastructure Improvement Program (AIP). The project helps extend the runway to 8000’ giving Vance Air Force Base pilots an alternate airfield to land their T-38 jet trainers.
The FAA Logistics Center (FAALC) shelter team has been providing these types of equipment shelters to the National Airspace System (NAS) since 2001. Since inception, the program has provided over 1,000 shelters to the NAS, serving the FAA NavAids, Unstaffed Infrastructure Sustainment (UIS), Power Systems Group (PSG), and Runway Status Lights (RWSL) Program Management Offices as well as assisting customers from the Department of Defense and Customs Border Protection.
The Equipment Shelter Team captures and analyzes the needs of each individual customer, taking into account their shelter needs, converting their requirements into contract line item numbers (CLINs), and placing a build-to-order shelter requisition with a vendor located in Lake Charles, LA. The FAALC currently offers four major types of service regarding equipment shelters:
The first level of business is the ability to provide a ‘plug and play’ shelter, equipped with installed/tested Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) and/or Approach Lighting Systems (ALS) from the production shop located in the LSF building at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center. The team transports the building to the depot where it is installed/tested with an ILS (localizer or glideslope) or an ALS - Medium-Intensity Approach Lighting System with Runway Alignment Indicator (MALSR). Upon passing inspection, the shelter and its ancillary equipment is then shipped to the customer. This level of service was utilized to provide the two installed/tested shelters to the Enid Airport.
The second level of service is a "ghost" installation where the team brings the shelter to the depot and mounts conduit and wiring to accommodate field installation of a specific ILS/ALS system. This depot level work is conducted in a high-quality, ISO-certified environment which dramatically reduces the amount of labor required in the field.
The third level of service is the direct-shipment of a shelter from the manufacturer’s location to the customer's site. These "empty" shelters are equipped with heating, A/C, fluorescent lighting, ground plates, electrical distribution panel, fused main disconnect, thermostatically controlled fan/vent and TVSS surge protector.
In 2005, the Equipment Shelter Team responded to a request to perform on-site removal and replacement shelters that were badly damaged by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The team installed ten shelters in support of hurricane relief and stood up a fourth level of service using turn-key ILS/ALS shelter field-installation using an AML crew at an airport site. Members of the Equipment Shelter Team can provide installations to new or established sites, and can provide service sustainment to sites where equipment is removed or being replaced. No matter what the situation requires when it comes to equipment housing, FAALC’s Equipment Shelter Team is quick, innovative and responsive.
In 2008, a newly established UIS Program Office learned of the team’s on-site capabilities and contracted the removal/replacement of 63 shelters across the NAS. The team has now performed over 100 on-site shelter removal and replacements involving systems such as: localizers, glide slopes, MALSR, outer markers, remote transmitter receivers, remote communications air/ground and radio communications link repeater.
FAALC deploys a minimum of a 3-person team per shelter to the site for the duration of construction. The length of deployment required for a typical shelter replacement is three weeks. Team members work “10 hour days, six days a week” to remove the ILS/ALS system. Removal consists of: demolishing the old/deteriorated shelter, modifying and/or replacing the concrete foundation, utilizing a crane to install a new shelter, installing new lightning protection and counterpoise system, reinstalling the system and restoring ILS capability. Additionally, the team strives to remove/replace the shelters without disturbing the radio frequency cable lengths so that a subsequent flight check is not required. The team deploys with a 32’ construction trailer containing all of their equipment, tools and known required materials to complete the project. To their credit, FAALC currently has the capacity to deploy three fully-equipped teams simultaneously.
The recent expansion at the Enid Airport represents just one job among many from the Equipment Shelter Team, as this job characterizes routine operations for them. Kudos also go to the FAALC’s transportation division (AML-1000) who are responsible for delivering shelters and equipment whenever requisitioned by the field. Apparently, when planning for the runway extension at Enid, the need to order equipment shelters was inadvertently overlooked until the very last minute. The transportation team jumped through hoops to deliver the shelters, antennas, and tower equipment overnight. Kudos to several teams working in the FAALC in helping to protect the infrastructure of our NAS. Great job!
