Getting an Airport Runway Repaired on the Hopi Rez

[Riverkilt]

I know there are a lot of sharp military guys on this board that are up on current units.

My lady was up visiting this weekend and got to talking about how the runway at the airstrip near the hospital she works at is in such disrepair that the visiting specialty doctors will no longer fly to the Hopi Reservation. Also, the condition of the runway is so bad the hospital can no longer use fixed wing medical evacuation. They have to use slower helicopters.

Apparently the air strip is asphault but has become very pot holed over the years of high desert winters and summers.

I know the Navy has SeaBees and the Army has combat engineers...but not sure if the later is the right unit for repairing damaged air strips.

Since the Hopi Hospital is Indian Health Service run they can't spend funds to repair the Hopi Tribe's runway. While the Hopi Tribe is strong and has lived in the same area for over 1,000 years they only number about 7,000 and don't have the funds to make the repairs.

Our idea was maybe somewhere there's a military reserve unit who specializes in repairing combat damaged runways that would want to come to Hopi and train by repairing a damaged desert runway. I just don't know the current names for that type of unit and which services have them.

Any terminology help appreciated then maybe we could see if that's a realistic possibility. The military engineering unit would win getting practice. The Hopi Tribe would win be getting their old level of medical specialty service back, and the hospital would win by getting the fixed wing medical evacuation option back.

Thanks for any info or ideas.

Ron

[cessna152towser]

It could be worth your while to contact Lord Stair, on whose estate Castle Kennedy airfield is located.
http://www.castlekennedyairfield.co.uk/
This is the old RAF station where my dad was based from '45 to '46 and where I flew to for Sunday lunch last weekend. The airfield was disused for a number of years but following re-asphalting of sections of the runway and patching of some potholes, part of the runway length is again usable by light aircraft. He might not be able to help as regards sourcing reserves to volunteer to do the job as he's not on your side of the pond, but he might be able to help you with details of what would be required and the technical jargon. Feel free to mention my name though he probably won't remember me - first time I visited his airfield and phoned him beforehand for permission and a briefing, I had a long chat with him and found him very helpful.

[oldsoldier]

Reserve units can usually be found either in their recruiting stations, or, more likely, online. I know that the 20th SF Group, until they moved, used to do 6 month tours to central america building hospitals, airstrips, and the like. An army reserve unit would be a combat engineer unit. Although, they may or may not be able to handle your request (alot of em are cycling through Iraq constantly, and may not have the equipment/manpower to do it). Another option would be the us army corps of engineers. Or, even fundraising. I dont think that, normally, reserve units can just accept a job for "training". I was national guard infantry for 10 years, and, we DID do alot of security for the state, but, thats what we were there for. Good luck.

[CelticRanger66]

The Army currently has more aircraft than the Airforce, The Corps Of Engineers is very adept in building airfields. Process your request to expidite it for Civilian assistance by the Military through your Congressman or Senator. Preferbly by the tribal authorities and their Washington office. That is how you get the ball rolling Ron.

[Mr. MacDougall]

I know the Navy reserve unit in Tucson is a CB unit. Hmm. I may still have a contact or two, there... I'll see if I can find someone with authority to give an answer.

[tp_magill]

From the Army's POV, the Combat Engineers are the correct answer. They build/ repair forward strips for resupply, medevac, etc.

If you can find an Engineer unit in the area (either National Guard or Reserve), they might be willing to help. I know the units in our area loved doing work of that sort since they got "real" training that way.

'Course, I've been out since '91 - rules may have changed.

Look in the phonebook - our National Guard and Reserve untis are listed. Sometimes they're in the "Government" section, other times in the normal listings as "National Guard," or "Ohio National Guard;" check "Army Reserve" for that branch.

[The Frumious B.]

Riverkilt,
My sister and I grew up in various parts of AZ.

She is ex-Army and just returned from Germany (US Army PAO) to New Orleans for another stint with the Corp Of Engineers as a Public Affairs Officer. She was with the Corps when the Missouri/ Mississippi Floods happened a few years ago and was an on-scene flak-catcher.

I cannot say what she might or might not do ( or be able to do) but I am sure that after 30 years in the Army and Corps (plus my brother-in-law with his 25 Army years,) it is likely that they have a couple of contacts or they might have an idea who and where to rattle some cages. They retired as, I believe, Lt. Col and Col, respectively.

Although my brother-in-law is Irish, he is still okay.

I hesitate to volunteer them for anything, but you never can tell. Let me know if I can arrange some kind of introduction. Good PR never hurt anyone, esp. the Government.