Moving massive antenna saves $250K

by Airman 1st Class Brittany A. Chase
366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

11/15/2013 - MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho  -- The 366th Communications Squadron finished relocating the Ground-to-Air Transmit and Receive antenna Nov. 12, at Mountain Home Air Force base, Idaho.

With the GATR move complete, it will provide reliable communication, while saving a quarter of a million dollars.

"By utilizing an existing antenna structure and performing all construction, cabling and designs in-house, the base saved nearly $250,000," said Senior Airman Justin Martin, 366th CS airfield systems journeyman. "The project also provided everyone involved with training which otherwise would not have occurred at this base."

Collaboration between the 366th CS, 366th Civil Engineering Squadron, 266th Range Squadron and 366th Operations Support Squadron enabled mission success, while overcoming multiple challenges.

"These guys and gals have developed the plans for this building from the ground up," said 1st Lt. John Runge, 366th CS Plans and Resources Flight officer in charge. "From engineering the design of the building to the coordination of the placement, it took a lot of effort from all parties."

While planning the move, the communication squadron's main focus was to provide dependable and capable communications at MHAFB.

"The relocation of the GATR site will provide the 366th Fighter Wing with more reliable air traffic control radio communication," said Martin. "It will exploit an unused 150-foot antenna structure, which is just outside the range of the current radio and cable range site."

A new building will provide an updated facility, improving all functionalities throughout the base communications system.

"The GATR site relocation project is a big win for the wing," said Maj. Ellen Canupp, 366th CS commander. "Relocating these types of radios into another building is an extremely rare thing, and only happens maybe every 50 years or so."

Providing a safer work environment took long hours and strenuous work weeks from all Gunfighters involved, said the Airmen.

"We could not have done this without the support from the wing, group commanders, comptrollers and other voting members within the financial management board," said Canupp. "With teamwork from everyone we've been able to make this dream a reality."