I know, I know.... It has been too long since I have posted some pictures.... So here I go.


A few weeks ago I was out and about and came across a rare sight. All ARFF trucks were parked outside their bays with a beautiful blue sky above them. I couldn't resist.


CFR (ARFF) 2


CFR (ARFF) 3


CFR (ARFF 4)


This is N101AJ, A Learjet with a tumor growing on its underside.... Ok, so thats not really a tumar, but it is a huge radar dome. This aircraft belongs to Intermap, and they have ben flying around TX, NM, and other areas around here mapping at night. They use the downsweeping radar to get a accurate detail of the terrain and therefor can make very acurrate maps.

Winter OPS


Here at MAF, we have a SAAB Friction Tester. SARYS (I don't know what it stands for) took a SAAB and added a bunch of testing equipment to make this into a fully functional friction tester.


This is the modified dash board of the SAAB. The handheld looking computer interfaces with the back and allows for accurate measurement of friction on a RWY during snow or ice conditions. With a different wheel, we can measure friction on rubber buildup.


This is the back of the SAAB, that big tank is exactly that.... a big tank of water. Doing friction testing on a normal day, or when testing rubber build up, you use water to "lubricate" the tire. If you didn't, the tire would shred rather quickly....


If you look at that last picture, this is that hatch now opened. This tire (a fifth wheel) goes up and down and moves slightly slower than the other four tires creating friction. It simulates slamming on your brakes and skidding. A computer then calculates the friction....


Here it is snowing at MAF!


With Snow, means deicing and other Winter OPS


Here, Patrick and I are going down RWY 28 testing the friction with the SAAB. After we get the friction values, we pass that information along to the Tower, and they to the pilots. With this information, pilots know what to expect on landing and can apply correct braking so they won't slide off the RWY.......


Here is a landscaping project we just completed in front of the terminal. It really just froze....


Another view (with my truck in the background)


It was cold....


and windy...


but it provided some good photo ops...

Flying Around...


I was asked to get some pictures of the airfield (since I'm always taking pictures) from the air. So I went up with the DPS (Department of Public Safety) in their Cessna 206 Stationair.


Awesome cockpit! All glass (other than the back up instruments)...


Anyway, we left this morning and flew all around the region. Here is MAF on takeoff from RWY 10


Here is downtown Midland.


Here is my apartment complex. I live in the unit that faces the loop....


As we were flying, we flew over this crop duster.


This is Cedar Lake (Not much of a lake really... just a bunch of oil fields sitting on it). Its an akali lake...


Here is a mesa I never knew what close to Midland.


Another view of it.


Windmills sitting on top of a mesa.


Another one.


I thought they were interesting rather than the flat around Midland....


This looked like a miniature canyon. Still pretty tall.....


another view


MAF from the air.


RWY 16R


Here is the construction we are doing. As you can see we have extended the light lanes and are about to finish paving them


In this shot, you can see the light lanes better b/c they are still white.


RWY 28. Notice no light lanes. This is the next RWY we will work on.


an Aircraft on Final for RWY 28


flaring


Another view of MAF


RWY 34L (notice the light lanes)


And another view of MAF


WN taking off RWY 28


climbing....


again


and departing


And us final for RWY 28


and short final RWY 28