Riveer Environmental is preparing to install its Birdbath clear water rinse system (CWRS) at Andersen Air Force Base (AFB) in Guam, US, to support aircraft maintenance in December 2013.
The system is scheduled to be installed at the Guam Strike Clear Water Rinse Facility, which is being constructed by the US Department of Defense’s (DoD) contractors and members of the 36th Civil Engineer Squadron, since May of this year.
Birdbath is an automatic CWRS designed to prevent corrosion that can be caused by residue build-up on aircraft operating over or near salt water, while recovering and recycling the used water to make it reusable for future rinses.
All aircraft stationed near salt water should be clear water rinsed at least once every 15 days, while the aircraft that flew over the salt water require a rinse after the last flight of the day, according to air force regulations.
36th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Commander major Shane Wehunt said the costs and time required to replace parts and remove corrosion is astronomical when rinse is nor regularly conducted.
Wehunt said, "Once the rust starts happening, it has to be ground out or else it will keep growing, even if the aircraft goes to a less humid location.
"[Birdbath] will pay for itself pretty quickly through the amount saved in the cost of corrosion control."
The taxi-through carwash-like system sprays a massive amount of water through eight oscillating water cannons, and features an adjustable pattern adjustable flow nozzles-equipped spray bar that spans the entire platform for undercarriage and underwing cleaning.
Installed in-ground as an integral part of the tarmac or above-ground to comply with airfield obstruction regulations, Birdbath can adjust its spray pattern to accommodate different sized-aircraft, and can be operated by a touch screen panel from the air traffic control (ATC) tower.
Scheduled to be fully operational by Exercise Cope North 2014, Guam Strike CRWS is expected to help the air base in keeping DoD and allied nations’ deployed aircraft operational and combat ready.
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Image: The Birdbath clear water rinse system prevents corrosion that can be caused by residue build-up on aircraft operating over or near salt water. Photo: ©2013 Riveer.
