III-1. EAGLE RIVER FLATS POND PUMPING
25
cm fuel depth in each tank) for retrograde due
proved to be much more efficient (Fig. III-1-
to the lift limitations of the Blackhawk. Genset
3). All the pipe was retrograded in one day,
6 can carry up to 790 L (48 cm) and still be
even though the Messerschmidt/Bokaw BO-
under the 4000-kg lift limit (Table III-1-4). A
105 helicopter was undersize and the fuel
12-VDC portable pump was purchased for the
depot ran out of cached fuel late in the day.
retrograde operation to defuel the genset
The flight time onsite for the retrograde op-
tanks into the auxiliary tanks prior to airlift-
eration was four hours.
ing the gensets. This eliminated the neces-
With the cessation of pumping activities at
sity of running the gensets without a load to
the Flats, preparation for storage began. All
burn off fuel, which is harmful to the engines.
the pipe is once again being stored on the EOD
All the heavy equipment was flown out in one
Pad over the winter. This year the hose and
day, with the helicopter finished by 2:30 p.m.
check valves are being stored under cover on
Rigging was done by Weldin and the AK Na-
the EOD Pad. The heavy equipment is stored
tional Guard using Guard-supplied sling
in the yard behind Building 724, where the
equipment.
oil and filters were changed with the help of
Retrograde of the discharge line occurred
Weldin. The batteries have been removed and
over the course of two days. Prior to opera-
are in storage in Building 992. These will be
tions the gensets were shut down (with the
re-installed later as a result of the decision to
exception of System 3) and the pipe discon-
have Cummins Northwest, Inc., conduct an
nected and piled in quantities of up to nine 6-
overhaul on all the gensets and replace the
m pieces. When available, 5- or 6-m slings
rear main bearing seals on gensets 2, 4, and 5.
were placed around the piles to prepare for
Block heaters will also be installed in all the
airlift operations. With the pipe in place, two
systems.
crews were deployed and the pipe flown back
to the marshalling yard on the EOD Pad. The
EOD Pad crew once again consisted of four
PERFORMANCE EVALUATION
personnel with the Bobcat loader. The field
Once again the systems performed beyond
crew consisted of four personnel as well, two
our expectations. This year the better-than-
to direct the helicopter and attach the load and
expected results are largely due to the effec-
two to finish preparing the loads' missing
tiveness of the tide gates. A slight change in
slings. The remaining gensets that had not
the course of the river at the head of the Flats
been defueled were defueled at this time.
also helped, resulting in a decrease of sheet
System 3 was left operational to prevent flood-
flow from that direction into Area C during
ing in Area C from the inflow of the beaver
normally flooding tides. Deepening the sump
channel. Once again, sling-loading the pipe
Table III-1-4. ERF helicopter performance statistics.
Fuel cap.
Burn rate
fuel load
fuel load
Equipment
(L)
(L/hr)
(kg)
(kg)
Bell 206L
415
125
225
415
Bokaw BO-105*
N/A
227
400
500
A-Star 350B2
540
170
710
910
Bell 212 (Huey)
830/1760†
378
375
1130
UH-60L Blackhawk
1360
564
3600
4100
Notes: *BO-105 numbers are estimates based on performance in the field in 2000. N/A = Not
available.
†Includes 930-L auxiliary onboard fuel tanks.