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  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Lynette M. Rolen
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  The morning’s intense, blistering heat did not stop Airmen from the 18th Civil Engineer Squadron from preparing for training while waves of heat rose from the flightline Aug. 16.

Members of the 18th CES power production unit and the fire department conducted training on readying an aircraft barrier in the event of an in-flight emergency (IFE).

In the event of an IFE, there are runways specifically set up and prepared with aircraft barriers. On each of these runways, one cable runs across the width and has two barrier shacks on either side of the cable. These shacks each contain a BAK-12 aircraft arresting system, which pulls the cable back into place after an aircraft comes in.

An aircraft barrier is similar to a retention cord system. As an aircraft comes in, it’s caught by the cable and jockeyed to a stopping point.

After an aircraft has safely stopped, Airmen inside the barrier shacks reel the cable back into position so it’s ready for the next aircraft.

“We came out here for training on running the barrier shacks for when an aircraft hits the barrier and takes it out during an in-flight emergency,” said Airman 1st Class Carson Price, 18th CES firefighter. “We were able to get the runway back in service faster to improve the mission.”

During the training, Price directed Airmen in the barrier shacks as they wound the cable back in. Timeliness was an important aspect because the barrier needed to be reactivated quickly in the event of another IFE.

“Our main mission is to have air superiority in the Pacific,” said Airman 1st Class Syed Hassan, 18th CES electrical power production and barrier maintenance technician. “Without fighters, we would not be able to do it. The entire purpose of this was to ensure fighters are able to return safely in the event of an emergency.”

To ensure the impact of an IFE isn’t too large, the power production unit is frequently out on the flightline doing barrier maintenance. Because of their experience, they were able to show the fire department their techniques for working the system in case of an event where the power production team couldn’t respond to an IFE.

Staff Sgt. Fardad Alimehri, 18th CES electrical power production and barrier maintenance technician, operated a forklift which carried the cable out during the training, simulating an aircraft being caught by the cable. Alimehri mentioned this training ensures Airmen are all on the same page for barrier reactivation.

“Everyone is willing to learn each other’s roles and responsibilities when it comes to performing this type of work,” said Alimehri. “Both firefighters and barrier maintenance; everyone is involved and doing their best to make sure pilots and aircraft are kept safe.”