Airmen from the 8th Civil Engineer Squadron heavy equipment, power production and structures shops move an aircraft arresting system at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Aug. 18, 2012. Kunsan has seven sets of emergency braking systems, which in the past year have saved three F-16 Fighting Falcons. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brigitte N. Brantley)
An aircraft arresting system is moved into place on pegs by Airmen from the 8th Civil Engineer Squadron at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Aug. 18, 2012. The heavy equipment, power production and structures shops worked together to make the emergency braking system once again functional. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brigitte N. Brantley)
Staff Sgt. Robert Davis, 8th Civil Engineer Squadron heavy equipment operator, unhooks a crane from an aircraft arresting system at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Aug. 18, 2012. The emergency braking system “catches” in-motion aircraft which can’t safely stop on their own. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brigitte N. Brantley)
An aircraft arresting system is moved into place on pegs by Airmen from the 8th Civil Engineer Squadron at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Aug. 18, 2012. The heavy equipment, power production and structures shops worked together to make the emergency braking system once again functional. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brigitte N. Brantley)
Airmen from the 8th Civil Engineer Squadron heavy equipment, power production and structures shops move an aircraft arresting system into place at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Aug. 18, 2012. The emergency braking system replaced a system that was damaged after heavy rains last week. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brigitte N. Brantley)
Staff Sgt. Robert Davis, 8th Civil Engineer Squadron heavy equipment operator, left, signals to a crane operator while they move an aircraft arresting system at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Aug. 18, 2012. After nearly a foot of rainfall here last week, the braking systems were under water. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brigitte N. Brantley)
Staff Sgt. Sheldon Mellott, left, 8th Civil Engineer Squadron heavy equipment operator, and Staff Sgt. Michael Brennan, 8th CES power production craftsman, unhook an aircraft arresting system after loading it onto a flatbed at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Aug. 18, 2012. After nearly a foot of rainfall here last week, the braking systems were under water and had to be moved. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brigitte N. Brantley)
by Senior Airman Brigitte N. Brantley
8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
8/21/2012 - KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- The 8th Civil Engineer Squadron heavy equipment, power production and structures shops came together Aug. 18 to relocate aircraft arresting systems on the Kunsan Air Base flightline. Some of Kunsan's seven sets of emergency braking systems were left underwater after heavy rainfall last week.
When needed, the pilot of a distressed aircraft deploys the hook, which drags until it catches a cable on the flightline. This process leads to a hydraulic pump turning and apploying pressure to a set of modified brakes; this stops the aircraft.
