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MacDill tankers deploy during runway construction

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (USTCNS) --- MacDill tanker aircraft are deploying to a temporary operating location while the center portion of the base's runway is under construction.

Three of MacDill's KC-135s left for Homestead Air Reserve Base Monday. Four other aircraft, along with approximately 210 personnel, also are due at Homestead, near Miami, for nearly two months.

The runway is receiving an overlay to increase its crown providing for quicker drainage of water, said Gary Gibson, 6th Civil Engineering Squadron airfield pavements engineer.

While overlaying the runway contractors will groove the runway surface providing a surface friction to prevent skidding.

The deployed aircraft and personnel will support normal operations, Operation Noble Eagle and higher headquarters taskings as needed.

When it was determined runway operations were going to be reduced at MacDill due to the construction requirements, the wing commander tasked 6th Air Mobility Wing plans to determine where the aircraft could deploy and still maintain 100 percent of their operational requirements and capability.

Numerous potential locations were surveyed, and it was finally determined Homestead ARB had the capability and necessary facilities to support this magnitude of a deployed operation.

"A deployment of this magnitude takes an incredible amount of effort and months of planning and preparation," said Maj. Henry Polczer, 91st Air Refueling Squadron director of operations.

"Only through the dedicated and coordinated efforts of wing planners, unit deployment monitors, command and control agencies, maintainers preparing the aircraft, security forces clearing the way and operations bringing in the resources to countless others working behind the scenes could any of this take place. It was truly a total wing effort -- I'm extremely proud of them all."

Depending on the contractor's ability to finish with the center portion of the runway, 6th AMW personnel and aircraft are scheduled to return early in July. The entire runway will be completed in January.

(FROM AIR MOBILITY COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS)

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