Kadena begins runway construction

  • Published
  • By Ed Gulick
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Kadena airfield began single runway operations as part of a major construction project that began Monday.

The U.S. funded construction project will take approximately 18 months to complete and will include milling and overlaying existing asphalt pavement, replacing individual concrete pavement slabs, repairing runway lights and distance-to-go markers and replacing emergency barrier shelters. Also, various taxiway projects will involve similar repairs.

At no time will both runways be closed for construction at the same time, said 18th Civil Engineer Squadron construction project manager Kevin Rogers.

Repair and construction of the south runway will begin first and will take approximately nine months. Once the south runway is operational, similar construction will begin on the north runway lasting approximately nine months as well.

"Overall, Kadena airfield is large and diverse in operations and it requires continual maintenance to sustain operations. We typically have projects of substantial magnitude occurring every three to five years," said Rogers.

For U.S. and coalition partner aircrew flying into and out of Kadena there will be an impact to flight operations, as two runways allows for simultaneous arrivals and departures between heavy transport and lighter fighter aircraft utilizing separate runways.

"The Kadena airfield provides for cargo movement and military training, but ultimately it is critical to the common defense of Japan," said General Wilsbach.

With only one runway open, air traffic will be more congested than under dual runway operations, explained Maj. Morris Fontenot, 18th Wing chief of standardization and evaluation and F-15 Eagle pilot.

Air traffic control will have fewer options to mitigate traffic congestion and may have to deviate from normal dual-runway procedures for flight safety reasons, said Maj. Rob Pekarek, 18th Operations Support Squadron director of operations.

In some instances, if a pilot doesn't have enough fuel to hold until it is safe to land at Kadena, they may divert to either Marine Corps Air Station Futenma or Naha airport. All three airfields have agreements for mutual use of runways if necessary for flight safety or minimum fuel requirements. Historically, all three airfields have been used for aircraft diversions in the past, said Major Pekarek.