An EA-6B Prowler descends for an arrested landing during a May 4 rehearsal for the Marine Air-Ground Task Force demonstration at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, before the 2012 MCAS Cherry Point “Celebrate the Heritage” Air Show. The E28 Emergency Arresting Gear system is a cable system used to bring fast moving jets to a stop in the event of an emergency landing or need for a short landing space. For Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Station Recovery Marines their job and focus is to maintain and operate these systems on the flight line to save the lives of pilots and keep the aircraft safe. If a pilot, whose aircraft has a tail hook, i.e. EA-6B Prowler, needs to make an arrested landing for any emergency, station recovery comes out to the designated flight line gear where they prepare to catch the aircraft. Sgt. Christopher D. Bentley, the maintenance chief for station recovery said the design of these arrest points are to produce the same stopping abilities as the landing cable on an aircraft carrier and the operational procedures of these gears, takes a lot of dedication and time from the Station Recovery Marines. They have to keep these gears well maintained, the gears use an engine to operate, and just like a car, they have a lot of moving parts that need continuous maintenance.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Cory D. Polom

Marines operate arresting gear, stop Prowler

15 May 2012 | Lance Cpl. Cory D. Polom Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. -- The E28 Emergency Arresting Gear system is a cable system used to bring fast moving jets to a stop in the event of an emergency landing or need for a short landing space. For Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point Station Recovery Marines their job and focus is to maintain and operate these systems on the flight line to save the lives of pilots and keep the aircraft safe.

If a pilot, whose aircraft has a tail hook, i.e. EA-6B Prowler, needs to make an arrested landing for any emergency, station recovery comes out to the designated flight line gear where they prepare to catch the aircraft.

Sgt. Christopher D. Bentley, the maintenance chief for station recovery said the design of these arrest points are to produce the same stopping abilities as the landing cable on an aircraft carrier and the operational procedures of these gears, takes a lot of dedication and time from the Station Recovery Marines.

They have to keep these gears well maintained, the gears use an engine to operate, and just like a car, they have a lot of moving parts that need continuous maintenance.