b'46 TUS AIRFIELD SAFETYrequired the TAA to acquire additional property. From there,After the TAA completed a series of scoping meetings, an TAA and the United Stated Air Force entered a MemorandumEnvironmental Impact Statement and a public hearing workshop, of Understanding that outlined property transactions among theFAA gave its approval for the airfield improvement program to entities. We coordinated with neighboring jurisdictions to swapproceed in 2017. The first shovel hit the ground in 2019 for land under mutually beneficial agreements, Bewley explains.an enabling project to construct an electrical lighting vault. It They got something they needed, and we got something wedoesnt sound exciting, but you have to start somewhere, needed. quips Bewley. Plus, the south airfield electrical lighting vault was It really was a win-win for all parties, she adds. For instance,needed for subsequent phases of the program.the Air Force has an opportunity to use the land we swappedRunway 11R-29L was demolished because at 8,803 feet long with them to relocate the storage facilities away from the airportand 75 feet wide, it could only support small general aviation to a different location, and the land we received on our side of theaircraft. Now that it is cleared away, that space is being prepared swap will become our safety area. We both got what we needed. for the new runway with drainage and earth compaction. Concrete paving is slated to start in summer 2025.The latest project milestone was achieved SCHIBECI this June, when crews finished installing an end-around taxiway and the largest F-16 Arm/PP600 MICRO PLANER De-Arm Pad in the country. This $25.7 million enabling project was a collaborative effort between the TAA and Arizona Air National Stripe & Marking Removal System Guard 162d Fighter Wing to significantly boost flexibility and efficiency to support their NO GHOST LINES | NO TRACE mission. The Arizona Air National Guard is the training base for allied nations using the F-16 HIGH PRODUCTION RATES | LOW OPERATING COST and has 75 based F-16s at TUS. In addition, it is a vital component of the nations Enduring Freedom operation. The Arm/De-Arm Pad provides 14 aircraft positions on the apron for simultaneous pre- and post-flight actions. The new end-around taxiway allows military aircraft efficient access to and from the airfield and around active runways. Other significant project elements include a barrier arresting kit on Runway 4-22, construction of new taxiways F, G and D3, and a Gate B entrance. This aspect was funded by grants from the FAA, Arizona Air National Guard and Arizona Department of Transportation.As that project ended, construction simultaneously began on the outboard Taxiway C and other work on the south side of the airfield. Planning and PartnershipsBewley notes that this project benefits from deep involvement of the TAA, FAA, USAF, Arizona Air National Guard, Raytheon Technologies, the city of Tucson and Pima County. Working group meetings allowed the parties to come together and rally around this important airfield project, she adds. Investing the necessary time and energy for planning is key to a program like this, Sold by: Bewley emphasizes, particularly because of Mecom Equipment LLC | 209.466.5135 | mecomsales@aol.com the extended timeline, numerous stakeholders FOR MORE INFORMATION: WWW.SCHIBECI.COMOctober 2024AirportImprovement.com'