The Air Force Center for Civil Engineering and the Environment is constructing a 63,645-square foot hangar at Hickam AFB, Hawaii, to handle corrosion control maintenance for the base’s new C-17 airlifters. An AFCEE release notes that Hickam currently has no facility large enough to handle paint and wash functions for the C-17s. The center also plans to build a 25,031-square foot maintenance shop for the new aircraft. Despite the island’s traditionally good weather, Hickam does get trade winds on a routine basis that make outdoors operations too hazardous. AFCEE expects to complete work on the C-17 projects in December.
Air Force depots are not typically meant for quick repair jobs, but during Operation Epic Fury, the service moved some of its stateside heavy maintenance capability forward to fix battle-damaged aircraft closer to the fight.
