Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH) has served as a strategic military resource in the Pacific Ocean since before World War II. It combines two historic bases into a joint installation to support both Air Force and Navy missions. As the two branches work together and continue to evolve, the base has seen, and continues to see, a wealth of changes and upgrades to its landscape.

Starting in 2010 when the bases merged, several groups – the Air National Guard, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – began working together to coordinate an upgrade of the fleet based at Hickam. The previously based squadron of F-15 aircraft was to be replaced with F-22 aircraft.

Where the F-15s only required a 400-foot explosive safety clear zone for munitions-loaded aircraft, the F-22s needed at least 758 feet. Therefore, a number of facilities needed to be enlarged. Additionally, the existing ramp did not provide adequate distance
between aircraft for munitions handling. This would have resulted in the need to relocate aircraft to other locations for munitions loading, potentially delaying or compromising missions.

To overcome these limitations and allow for the implementation, Atkins was selected as the project consultant to develop a comprehensive engineering plan. This eight-part plan included improvements to two main roads, relocating the water rinse pad and facility, installing a new hush house testing foundation, expanding the aircraft parking apron, and installing a subsurface stormwater management system.

The stormwater system was required to reduce and control runoff, as a replacement to an above-ground pond. By relocating the storage underground, the base could eliminate surface ponding and reduce the number of birds in the area. The new basin needed to store two acre-feet of runoff between elevations ranging from 0.5-4.5 feet, and upon completion, support HS-20 loading. Initial design was based upon the StormTank ST-24 Module but, as a publicly funded project, was open to any competitors pending contracting officer approval. Project specifications laid out the basic plans for the site, but the winning contractor would be responsible for final design and approval; this included shop drawings, material submittals, and technical calculations.

During the bidding process, Brentwood was contacted by one of the largest infrastructure contractors in Hawaii – Nan, Inc. Brentwood worked directly with Nan, Inc., and their design/ build consultant to develop a 565.5 x 60.0 x 2.0-foot system, comprised of 7,540 ST-24 Modules. The system’s total storage was approximately 87,381.24 cubic feet, including stone. To provide adequate 24” cover, the design utilized the excavated material on top of the basin.

This project was installed in the summer of 2014, adjacent to the new F-22 staging area as part of the ongoing expansion of facilities. The system design had to pass the approval of the Army Corps of Engineers, and the ensuing installation needed to occur while the facility remained active. Today, the base is able to operate the F-22 aircraft as intended to carry out Air National Guard missions and initiatives.