The Egyptian Air Force has a new three-bay C-130 maintenance hangar at Cairo West Air Base, Cairo. The 10,400-square meter hangar, built by Contrack International, Inc., was completed in April, on schedule and for $14,227,487.
The Transatlantic Programs Center supervised this design-build project on behalf of the U.S. Air Force Materiel Command, the program manager for several projects being accomplished in conjunction with the Egyptian air force.
The project consisted of the design and construction of a three-bay maintenance hangar containing these ground-floor level shops: pneudraulics, wheel and tire, electrical, environmental, non-destruction inspection including X-Ray and film processing, composite, structural/machine and welding, according to Carol Ann Spratley, construction representative, Egypt Area Office.
“In addition to shops, the facility has storage areas and administrative offices,” Spratley said. The administration complex also includes a training auditorium capable of seating 150 people.
“Supporting facilities included utility connections, electric service, exterior lighting, fire protection and alarm systems, paving, walks, storm drainage, information systems, and site improvements at Cairo West Air Base to provide maintenance for the Egyptian C-130 fleet,” Spratley added.
Simultaneous maintenance can be conducted at the new hangar on three C-130 aircraft, according to Project Engineer Ahmed Majili, Egypt Area Office, who identified an innovation from the project. “The contractor proposed a value engineering change to paint the columns and ceilings instead of (using) plaster since the finish was so smooth and clean.”
The construction started on Feb. 28, 2006.
Majili attributed the on-time completion and overall success of the project to a team of people. “Not one person can be responsible for such achievement. It was through the hard work of many individuals that this project was a success,” he said. “This was an effort by many individuals who all contributed their best to provide the customer with a quality product.”
TAC has worked closely with AFMC and Egyptian military customers for more than 25 years, providing facilities that support equipment sales to this allied nation. The C-130 project falls under the Defense Department’s foreign military sales program, a component of security assistance that transfers defense equipment, services, and training to other nations.