Location: North Auxiliary Airfield, SC
Owner: Joint Base Charleston
The Repair C-17 Landing Zone, NAAF project involved the complete removal and reconstruction of the existing 3,500 foot runway “Landing Zone” at Joint Base Charleston’s Auxiliary Airfield in North, SC. The original landing zone was constructed of asphalt for the purpose of training C-17 pilots to land in remote theaters of operation. Having exceeded its design life, it was time to reconstruct the runway.
Air Mobility Command and Joint Base Charleston elected to reconstruct the landing zone with Portland cement concrete and to replace the lighting system with covert and overt lighting systems. The runway was constructed 3,500 feet long by 90 feet wide and consisted of all new 15 inch thick concrete pavements and 6 inch aggregate base. New 45 feet wide paved asphalt shoulders were added to the edge of the new runway for jet blast protection. Asphalt and concrete pavement were sent to recycling centers. The project also included tie-ins to existing taxiways and the addition of a new paved overrun, approach lighting systems and localizer guidance systems. During construction, ADC oversaw Title II inspection services and Title II quality assurance services.
Throughout this six month long project, Joint Base Charleston continued its training operations at NAAF, with landings on the primary runway and continuing air drop training, low altitude and high altitude. Through cooperative efforts, drop zones were realigned during design so the contractor could work on site without disrupting the training efforts or construction activity.