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File: aabfs_04.txt
Page: 04
Total Pages: 23

800 feet.  We built two A-10 ramps, which were 1000 by 200
feet each, and then a MAC ramp, which is capable of holding
10 C-5s.  It is about 2500 by 600 feet.
	
Another ramp that we parked the F-16s on, which was a Saudi
ramp--the Saudis call it ramp No.2; we call it the Viper
ramp--was under construction at the time, and the French Air
Force used it prior to us.  At the commencement of
hostilities, we kind of adopted it and then used it.
	
I used a very methodical approach in parking our aircraft
and designating areas assigned for the various units.  I
think because of that we have been very successful in 
establishing flows and ICT [Integrated Combat Turns] areas
and fueling pits.

We have six fueling pits here. We store over 1 1/4 million
gallons of JP-4 on the airfield. These were all installed
on or about January 7th, so we have made some improvements
here. We did bring it to a full-up combat potential.

We did install some approach lights the day after the F-4
crashed.  We did not have a communications system to tell-
or perhaps we didn't understand the communications system
well enough to know--that the TACC [Tactical Air Control
Center] in Riyadh was not getting the right weather
information, and therefore sending, via AWACS, fighters into
our airfield when our airfield was literally closed because
it was WOXOF [Zero Visibility-Zero Ceiling].

I am sure that we did not understand the weather here when
we came. We did not anticipate how bad the weather could be
in terms of vis [visibility]; how fast the vis could close
down.  In a matter of 5 minutes, it would go from a mile vis
to 600 feet. We didn't understand that could happen here.

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