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Had fun in a Runway Sweeper
Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 11:49 pm
by AltarBoy
My boss placed me in charge of supervising a company doing runway and ramp sweeping at the airport. The truck was huge with air-conditioning. So we spent most of the day spinning around the ramp. Only excitement was a helicopter air taxiing behind and the ATC calmly announcing over the w/t set, "Sweeper, this is Tower, nice weather isn't it? Oh, by the way there's a Bell chopper on your six!"

Which reminds me tomorrow I'm gonna put that dead bird on that controller seat.

Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 2:16 am
by :FI:WillieOFS
I ran one of these for 2 years.....
http://products.schwarze.com/pdf/Schwar ... ochure.pdf
It's amazing what those things will eat and even MORE amazing at what they woll NOT eat..

String, rope and wire are not sweeper friendly..
Runway sweeping ought to be a piece of cake. Sweeping the shoulders on a big interstate highway can get exciting..

NOTHING like seeing an 18 wheeler approaching your six with all the tires smoking and the trailer at a 45° angle to the tractor......

( he missed me though )
I don't miss it. We've got contactors to do that crazy stuff now and my job is to make sure they do it right.
My nickname is Inspector O'jete.. Sounds kind of Irish..

Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 11:47 am
by AltarBoy
Sure sounds Irish to me, Willie.

Geez, I have to do this for 13 days. What I don't like is having to be on the runway from 11pm-7am. But at least I get triple time pay.
