SLAF's Rapid Runway Repair Wing in Action Again
12:30pm on Friday 12th July 2013
The Rapid Runway Repair (RRR) Wing of the Sri Lanka Air Force commissions the Asphalt Production Plant at Mamaduwa and completes resurfacing the internal road network and portions of the taxiway in SLAF China Bay today (11th) in under six days.
After successfully completing the construction of the Iranamadu runway, the RRR Wing initiated and just today (11th) completed work related to asphalt lying of internal road networks and taxiways. The internal road network of the SLAF Academy China bay spanning a distance of approximately two kilometers, the entrance road to the Air movement Section, the abandoned funnel, and a portion of the taxiway 50 feet wide and 750 feet long was completed within six days with approximately 1200MT of asphalt being utilized for the entire project.
In the true spirit of nation building in a post conflict context, the construction of runways was undertaken by the SLAF utilizing its own materials and manpower. The onus of this task fell on the shoulders of the SLAF’s Rapid Runway Repair Wing (RRRW) which carried out its task utilizing its expertise and knowledge gathered during the latter stages of the conflict and augmented with new facilities such as the newly established Materials Testing Laboratory at SLAF Base Ratmalana.
With this experience under its belt the RRR Wing expanded its capabilities by commissioning the SLAF's first asphalt plant at SLAF Detachment Mamaduwa with which it realizes a long awaited dream of being self sufficient in asphalt laying. This plant is operated by the RRR Wing whilst all administrative functions of the plant are handled by the Command Development Project Unit (CDPU).
Sheer commitment and the ability to function as a cohesive team is, according to the Commanding Officer Wg Cdr KIS De Silva , is the secret behind the success of the wing. The Wing which functions under the purview of the Director Civil Engineering Air Vice Marshal CR Gurusinghe, is said to be ready to put their newly acquired experience to good use rehabilitating the other domestic runways situated around the island.
After successfully completing the construction of the Iranamadu runway, the RRR Wing initiated and just today (11th) completed work related to asphalt lying of internal road networks and taxiways. The internal road network of the SLAF Academy China bay spanning a distance of approximately two kilometers, the entrance road to the Air movement Section, the abandoned funnel, and a portion of the taxiway 50 feet wide and 750 feet long was completed within six days with approximately 1200MT of asphalt being utilized for the entire project.
In the true spirit of nation building in a post conflict context, the construction of runways was undertaken by the SLAF utilizing its own materials and manpower. The onus of this task fell on the shoulders of the SLAF’s Rapid Runway Repair Wing (RRRW) which carried out its task utilizing its expertise and knowledge gathered during the latter stages of the conflict and augmented with new facilities such as the newly established Materials Testing Laboratory at SLAF Base Ratmalana.
With this experience under its belt the RRR Wing expanded its capabilities by commissioning the SLAF's first asphalt plant at SLAF Detachment Mamaduwa with which it realizes a long awaited dream of being self sufficient in asphalt laying. This plant is operated by the RRR Wing whilst all administrative functions of the plant are handled by the Command Development Project Unit (CDPU).
Sheer commitment and the ability to function as a cohesive team is, according to the Commanding Officer Wg Cdr KIS De Silva , is the secret behind the success of the wing. The Wing which functions under the purview of the Director Civil Engineering Air Vice Marshal CR Gurusinghe, is said to be ready to put their newly acquired experience to good use rehabilitating the other domestic runways situated around the island.
