Ramp restricted area

Distinct red and white markings on the aircraft ramp at the Air Operations Complex indicate a restricted area at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, Aug. 2, 2018. Restricted area procedures go into effect when priority level aircraft are parked on the ramp. The ramp at the old base operations facility at Bldg. 1360 has the same red line and white markings around its perimeter so it, too, can be a restricted area if needed. (U.S. Air Force photo by John Ingle)

Ramp restricted area

Clear markings at the Air Operations Complex warns visitors of the potential for the ramp to become a restricted area when priority level aircraft are present at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. Visitors are required to enter at an entry control point under the supervision of an 82nd Security Forces Squadron member. A similar perimeter has been marked at the old base operations ramp located at Bldg. 1360. (U.S. Air Force photo by John Ingle)

Red line marks new restricted area at transient aircraft ramps

Published Aug. 2, 2018
By 82nd Security Forces Squadron
82nd Training Wing Public Affairs

SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas – Transient aircraft making their way from one spot to another often stop at Sheppard AFB for a short layover including priority level aircraft like fifth-generation fighters such as the F-22 Raptor or the F-35 Lightning II.

In years past, 82nd Security Forces Squadron personnel used special equipment such as ropes, stanchions and metal restricted area/entry control signs to set up a controlled perimeter around such aircraft parked on the ramps at the Air Operations Complex and the old base operations facility at Bldg. 1360. Those security measures were costly to replace, forced visiting aircraft to sit outside of a restricted area until members could place the equipment around the priority level aircraft and could potentially present foreign object debris hazards.

Now, those antiquated ropes, stanchions and signs have been replaced with a red line around the entire perimeter of the ramps to show the designated restricted area for those types of aircraft.

Establishing these restricted areas then dismantling them once the mission is complete can be a time consuming and labor intensive undertaking. This specific task occupied posted security forces members and detracted from accomplishing their assigned law enforcement and force protection duties. Now, when a priority level aircraft arrives, the new red lines allow posted security forces members to respond and immediately implement the same security procedures used previously, without the interruption of erecting a restricted area.

Once the priority level aircraft departs the base, the area becomes part of the flightline again, allowing the security forces members to concentrate their efforts on the next security operations task.

For more information regarding the restricted area or other security concerns, call Paul Bethel at 940-676-2106 or send an email to paul.bethel.1@us.af.mil.