JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Contractors worked throughout the week to install a new $1.8 million lighting system around the 433rd Airlift Wing flight line at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas . The new light poles will bring the flight line lighting up to Air Force standards. "The current lighting system was put in place in 1986 for security purposes not maintenance," said Don Hall, a 433rd Airlift Wing Safety specialist. " At that time the maintenance group was not working three shifts. However, since that time, increased mission requirements, inception of the school house, and maintenance increasing their ops to 24 hours lead to a safety hazard." In 1997, he began the lengthy process to have the lighting system updated because of the safety hazard .
USAF. (U.S. Air Force Graphic by Rosario "Charo" Gutierrez)