Travis gets swept away: 'Dirt Boys' keep base free of debris

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Nicole Leidholm
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  A lone pebble, inconspicuous to the casual observer, doesn't realize it has no business existing several hundred feet away from three major weapons system on the Travis flightline.

Five days a week, one of four street sweepers from the 60th Civil Engineer Squadron pavement and equipment shop takes turns sucking up anything directly in its path.

"We work on general appearance of the base, but we also pick up (foreign object debris) from the flightline so we are able to generate flights and missions," said Master Sgt. Tyrone Oden, 60th CES pavement and equipment NCO in charge.

Even a tiny rock can pose a serious threat if caught inside the engine of a C-5 Galaxy, C-17 Globemaster III or KC-10 Extender.

"We have a designated airfield sweeper who cleans up debris from the flightline," said Airman 1st Class Frank Lockett, 60th CES pavement and equipment specialist. "It helps in FOD recovery by preventing any rocks or even bottles from being sucked up into a KC-10."

All the debris gets vacuumed into a large collection bin at the back of the truck, swept inside through two large circular gutter brooms. A steering wheel also is located on the passenger side, convenient for use in areas where curbs and gutters are on the right side.

"We clean a set number of streets per day, but start out with the main ones, such as Travis Boulevard and Burgan Avenue. It takes us about two to three days to clean the entire base," Lockett said.

This time of year is especially busy for the Airmen in the horizontal shop.

"We do preventative maintenance," Oden said. "We are proactive about cleaning the base streets to help prevent any drainage issues. It also helps clean up dust and allergens."

Between November and April, the street sweepers are constantly out. They pick up leaves that get piled in the gutters and bring back two to three hoppers full of debris daily.

"If we're not out there cleaning the streets daily, debris piles up and could clog the drains causing flooding on base," Lockett said.

The delta breeze also keeps the Airmen busy, constantly blowing debris onto the base. Lockett has tips for individuals and motorists on base to help in the cleaning process.

"Don't throw debris out the window," he said. "If you see garbage, pick it up. Otherwise, it it's major, such as brush or branches, call our office and we will come pick it up."

He also asks that motorists be patient if they "get stuck" behind one of the street sweepers.

"We can only go 10 mph to efficiently pick up debris," Lockett said. "We also have frequent stops. It's best to leave a two to three car gap from the sweeper."

The horizontal shop collects approximately seven cubic yards of debris daily and approximately seven tons yearly. But keeping the streets clean isn't all they do. They help in different aspects of base appearance as well, from laying down pavement, operating heavy equipment and maintaining the roads and flightline.

"We deal with anything from asphalt to concrete," Lockett said. "We deal with sealants, leveling the ground and even putting up fences."

Lockett takes pride in making sure Travis looks its best.

"When individuals come to base, how it looks is their first impression of the base," he said. "It's a reflection of me, my shop and Travis. I like to keep things neat and orderly and if our base looks trashy then people think we don't care. I like seeing that my work here makes an impact."

For more information on the 60th CES pavement and equipment shop or to place a service call, call 424-2575.