"WHOA!"

Marine Wing Support Squadron 171's expeditionary airfield operations section performed their first expeditionary aircraft arrestment Monday during the first phase of the Thailand Incremental Training Program here. About a dozen Marines spent an entire day setting up the M-31 deployable arresting gear which had to meet strict specifications in order to safely stop a Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 332 F/A-18 Hornet, according to Chief Warrant Officer Todd Tarker, MWSS-171, expeditionary airfield operations and crash fire and rescue officer in charge here.

The M-31 is a medium to long range arrestment device that allows aircraft to stop on shorter runways by the way of a 90-foot-long cable stretched across the runway. During landing, a Hornet's tail hook grabs the wire bringing the aircraft to an abrupt halt - similar to landing on an aircraft carrier. Once the aircraft is stopped, recovery Marines retract the cable and prepare for the next landing aircraft.

"It takes about 90 seconds from the time the aircraft hits the deck to the time the gear is ready for another trap," said Cpl. Charles Maddox, MWSS-171, expeditionary airfield operations Marine.

From draft and survey Marines to utilities Marines, successfully performing this mission required teamwork from everyone involved, said Tarker. However, thanks to a previous site survey here, the Marines were prepared to set the gear in place.

The force of the landing jet is so great, that recovery Marines have to anchor the gear to the ground. Using a jackhammer and four foot long cruciform stakes, Marines slowly and deliberately attached the M-31 firmly into the earth's crust. Setting up the gear is time consuming and hard work in Thailand's 90 degree weather, but despite a little sweat, Tarker said he is proud of what his Marines have done.

The F/A-18 Hornet pilot who took part in the first deployed arrestment was the Moonlighter's Capt. Clint Weber.

"(Marine Wing Support Squadron 171) did a great job," Weber said. "This was a successful demonstration of setting up the equipment in remote location thus allowing us to sustain operations on shorter runways."

The arresting gear also comes equipped with a Fresnel Lens that helps pilots to land on the gear at night. Called "Flying the meatball," Tarker explained the pilots' term for the colorful lights that let them know if they are on target for a safe and successful arrestment.
Tarker said another highlight is that the gear can be set up in almost any location. "You can take this system and essentially put it on a dirt road and the gear should stop the aircraft."

An advantage to testing the gear in a deployed situation, Tarker said, is that Marines in the air and on the ground gain confidence in each other and understand that in a hostile situation this gear can and will be put to use. The Marines are scheduled to continue using the arresting gear with at least three arrestments per day throughout the week.

Currently the Royal Thai air force F-16's that are participating in this bilateral training program will not be landing using the M-31 arresting gear. The training program kicked off last week and is scheduled to last until the end of November. [ANN Thanks USMC Cpl. Robert W. Wynkoop]

FMI: www.usmc.mil