Airmen assigned to the U.S. Air Force 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Group test a mobile aircraft arresting system April 8, 2020, at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia. The arresting system helps U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets land on battle damaged runways or otherwise stop their forward motion at the end of the runway to prevent crashes. The MAAS is a contingency airfield asset designed to ensure U.S. pilots safely come to a stop in the event of an in-flight emergency (IFE) and is required whenever the fighter jets travel to a location that doesn’t have a permanent aircraft arresting system.
MAAS (Mobile Aircraft Arresting System) is basically a standard BAK-12 aircraft arresting system made mobile through installation on a MAAS trailer. Each trailer contains hydraulic tools and hardware necessary for installation and removal of the system. The ability to be installed in multiple configurations on several different surface types makes the MAAS a flexible system. In case of an IFE (In-Flight Emergency) upon take-off or landing a tailhook drops from the body of the plane so it can snag the cable, which uses controlled friction to pull the plane to a stop in as little as 300-400 feet. The MAAS is designed to be transported by truck, train, or cargo aircraft.
