Our part in keeping RAF Marham operational

The task was to define the ground levels for the equipment to be installed too, to refurbish equipment sets held in storage, install them, and commission the systems into service in time for the runway coming into service.

This involved surveying the ground, identifying the correct locations, creating the installation drawings for the foundations to be designed to and liaising with the construction contractors prior to installing the equipment.

The RHAG/PAAG systems operate in a similar way to the arrestor gear seen on an aircraft carrier. In the event of an emergency a steel wire cable is positioned across the runway and the hook fitted to a Typhoon aircraft is lowered by the pilot as the aircraft comes into land. On landing the hook catches on the cable and the system slows the aircraft down from the 120 knots it is likely to be doing on landing, to a safe stop.

Just two months after the systems were installed and commissioned into service the first successful aircraft arrest was made following an aborted take-off with the aircraft brought safely to a stop.