18th CS replaces PACAF's largest air-to-ground communication antenna towers

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Maeson L. Elleman
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  The 18th Communications Squadron's cable and antenna systems shop has been replacing Kadena's air-to-ground communication antenna towers, the largest in the Pacific Air Forces, since the beginning of the year.

The project, which began planning in 2006, is designed to upgrade and replace the nearly 30-year-old radio transmission, and later the reception towers in order to greatly increase Kadena's aircraft coordination capabilities.

"We are replacing the base's transmitter site ultra-high frequency and very-high frequency systems used for ground control approach and vehicle taxiway traffic," said Staff Sgt. David Hollars, 18th CS antenna systems supervisor. "The antennas in the old system are pretty much antiquated. They're 1980s technology. This will provide a more reliable [radio frequency] capability to the air base."

Hollars said the design of the old transmission system uses a set of couplers and switches which causes the systems to operate on 16 different frequencies.

However, after the Airmen from the shop ripped out the 1950s-era systems and replaced them with 21st century hardware, a $795,000 overhaul, the systems can now operate on 40, much stronger frequencies. This way, air traffic controllers now have the ability to coordinate more flightline traffic than ever before.

"Essentially, [by removing the couplers], it more than doubles the radio frequency capacity and eliminates issues," said Hollars. "We're eliminating that faulty equipment and taking it out of the equation, so now it's easier for us and easier for everybody."

Another major benefit of the renovation to the antennas is further protection from the elements - specifically typhoon damage.

Hollars said nearly each time a typhoon hit Okinawa, a relatively frequent occurrence, the old systems would receive extensive external damage, and would have to be repaired.

"[The old system] is very exposed to the elements," said Hollars who's worked to replace the system around six times in the 4.5 years he's spent on island. "And, the poles are almost 30 years old, so they're condemned. A lot of them weren't even able to be climbed to perform maintenance on the cable and antenna systems."

"It's always been a constant thing," added Aguiar. "This is one less issue we have to worry about."

Aguiar also said the system upgrades make the antennas more dependable and therefore allows the shop to focus more on other units with high mission tempos.

"This new system allows us to concentrate more on the special operations squadron and other units with pressing missions," said Aguiar. "We can now put them first, because we know the airfield system's taken care of. We know that planes can do what they need to do, and we can concentrate on the smaller [partner] units."

Hollars said the transmission towers' completion is estimated to be in the middle of February.