KC-46 Prep: Maine in manholes

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Erica Rowe
  • 157th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
PEASE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.H. --  Members from the 243rd Engineering Installation Squadron from Portland, M.E. remove outdated coaxial cable and obsolete fiber optic cable from various manholes here June 17.

"This is similar to reverse osmosis," said Master Sgt. Keith Anderson, team chief for the removal project. "Typically we're putting the cables in - not taking them out."

So far, the team has assisted the 157th Communications Flight with removing over 20,000 feet of cable from Pease ANGB.

"Since the KC-46 expansion will most likely increase the amount of personnel and office space on base, removing this cable now will make it easier to add cable in the future," said Anderson.

According to Tech. Sgt. Eric Lewis, 157 CF radio frequency transmission shop technician, the 243 EIS conducts various projects at Pease ANGB throughout the year.

"They are a great asset," said Lewis. "[They are able to] complete work that we are not staffed, trained, or qualified to do."

Lewis added "Anderson and his team went above and beyond this time around...[they] assisted us with cleaning up considerably more infrastructure than was previously planned for this trip."

The cable removal process began on June 6 and ended June 17.