(From the 512th Airlift Wing)
The Dover Air Force Base airfield will close from Feb. 24 to March 1, 2016, to permit crews to remove and repaint airfield markings and reposition airfield lights.
The work will allow Runway 14-32 to be shortened for operations during this phase of the ongoing Runway 01-19 construction project.
“In order for the contractor to work on the intersection, we have to reconfigure a long runway into a shorter runway,” said Lt. Col. Charles Throckmorton, 436th Operations Support Squadron director of operations.
Since February 2015, Dover AFB’s north-south Runway has been closed to undergo a complete renovation. The base’s other runway, 14-32, is still fully operational. The construction project has reached the stage in which the intersection of both runways will see construction.
The project has limited civilian air traffic at the base, with aircraft arriving for NASCAR race weekends diverted to other locations.
When this next phase of construction begins on the two runways’ intersections, it will cut the length of runway 14-32 from 12,900 feet to 6,000 feet, a release noted.
“The C-5s will relocate to [Joint Base] McGuire[-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey] and the C-17s will move off-station operations for the six days,” said Throckmorton.
During this closure, the only aircraft that will remain at Dover AFB will be those undergoing maintenance.
“We’ve done a lot of homework with the base and Air Mobility Command,” said Throckmorton. “We are doing everything we can to mitigate the risk.”
The next phase of construction is expected to last from March 1 to Aug. 1, 2016, leaving Dover with 6,000 feet of operational runway. This cut will limit the operations of C-5Ms.
The majority of Dover’s fleet of C-5s will remain at McGuire, while Dover’s C-17s will remain at the base.
“The C-17 was designed to be an intermediate strategic and tactical airlifter,” said Lt. Col. Jason Mills, 3d Airlift Squadron commander. “It has long range capabilities, but a tactical capacity as well; it was designed to land on short fields.”
The Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations will remain in operation. During the six day closure, transfers would take place at New Castle Air National Guard Base.
