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Air Traffic Control tower replaces old evacuation system

  • Published
  • By Kimberly Woodruff
  • Staff Writer
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, OKLA. --  Imagine being in the Air Traffic Control tower when a fire breaks out. You need a safe and quick way to escape.

The folks in Tinker's tower will now rely on the new High Rise Escape System, or HRES, which replaces the former Baker Life System.

According to Dave Melton, Air Traffic Control supervisor, the switch to the new system was made after complications arose with recertification of the Baker chute.

After the creator of the Baker Life System passed away and his family didn't want to keep up the business, Mr. Melton researched companies for replacements. Safety codes require the system to be recertified on a regular basis and other companies won't certify someone else's system.

"This tower was built in the late 60s, so we have to have measures in place to make up for the shortcomings," said Mr. Melton. "In the event of a fire, there must be a safe but quick way to exit the tower."

In looking for a replacement evacuation system, Mr. Melton had three things in mind: ease of deployment in the event of a fire, how rapidly the system could be set up to go and the cost.

According to Mr. Melton, it took 10 to 12 minutes to escape with the Baker system. With the new system, it takes just a minute or two. A person can descend the 110 foot drop at 3 feet per second.

The vertical drop was another consideration for the new system. Mr. Melton said some of the systems they looked at had completely vertical drop methods that could result in injuries from descending too quickly and landing sharply.

The HRES works with a pulley system, preventing a descent that is too quick.

The new system cost $19,000 to cover two sides of the tower. According to Mr. Melton, that price was 80 percent cheaper than other systems they looked at.

Though cheaper is good, HRES came with something else quite unique. In addition to the system, Mr. Melton said they purchased four fireproof bags that can be used to lower someone unable to descend on their own accord, such as someone who has passed out or who might have special needs.

The swing arm of the HRES is rated for 5,000 pounds and the harness can hold 400 pounds when lowering a person in a controlled descent.

Mr. Melton said the HRES is currently used at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., and Balad Air Base, Iraq.

"The contractor is new to doing business with the military, but sooner or later everyone who has been using the Baker Life system will need to be replacing theirs, and we can't beat the HRES for the money and speed," he said.

Escape systems need to be recertified every five years. The cost to certify the HRES is $400 every five years compared to $1,000 bi-annually to recertify the Baker Life system.

"It's like insurance. You have it hoping to never have to use it," Mr. Melton said.