Imagine being responsible for protecting the most crucial helicopter fleet in America. That was precisely the situation Sunbelt Rentals encountered when a construction client called on them to join a project serving the Marine One helicopter fleet.
Known as “white tops,” these magnificent birds are operated by Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) and have one of the most critical jobs in the military, to safely transport the President of the United States on official trips around the country and overseas.
The plan was to restore the current hangar located on an air force base and install a fabric structure onsite to shelter the Marine One fleet from the elements; the secondary objective was to provide a home base until construction updates were complete.
Why Sunbelt Rentals
Given the urgency and nature of the assignment, the construction company hired Sunbelt Rentals, an approved GSA provider, because of their experience supplying government and military clients with fabric structures, both temporary and semi-permanent.
Sunbelt Rentals' turnkey services include providing fully operational, customized structures to fit a multitude of military projects:
- Troop cities
- Turnkey base camps
- Barracks
- Aviation hangars
- Security checkpoints
- Dining facilities
The Challenge
The contractor client faced significant challenges with their construction renovation project. Contractors plan work schedules months ahead, and any deviation in a milestone on the timeline equates to a problem.
The Marine One hangar was no exception. The schedule indicated renovation should begin within three months, so the temporary structure had to be in place and fully operational before the deadline. Additionally, the durability of the structure was critical because it had to withstand extreme weather and remain onsite for at least a year.
Beyond the tight timeline, the temporary structure was expected to operate as a permanent aviation hangar. The hangar door, in particular, had the essential task of opening instantly to allow Marine One helicopters to quickly deploy.
The client also asked for ample storage space with high ceilings to allow for maintenance as well as parking spaces for multiple helicopters.
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 Designed for Snow & Wind |
 Complete Professional Team |
The Solution
After consideration of the purpose, available space, climate and location, the team proposed a solution using the Sunbelt Rentals Tension Series fabric structure.
The MTS™ is engineered using the standard peaked-arch profile and is proven perfect for shedding snow and winds up to 130 mph. The structure is made of industrial fabric and engineered to install quickly and to be relocated or expanded. It offers flexibility that allows it to serve projects requiring temporary or semi-permanent applications.
As a solution to the exacting specification of a “fast” departure door, Sunbelt Rentals proposed the Sunbelt Rentals Xtension™ Door, a fully retractable fabric entrance. Developed by Sunbelt Rentals experts, this door is best suited for aircraft and heavy equipment, and can be opened or closed in just THREE minutes.
Sunbelt Rentals' Solution included the following features:
- 20,000 sq. ft., Sunbelt Rentals Tension Series™, MTS™ Series
(compliant with snow/wind load specifications) - 1 Sunbelt Rentals Xtension™ door
- Expert project managers, designers and installation team
The design and planning stages of the project stretched over a few weeks. Sunbelt Rentals' team made a site visit to ensure the structure would perform as intended. The visit included laying out how to position the structure so that the Xtension™ door’s wench system could anchor into the existing concrete.
Sunbelt Rentals' team describe themselves as “old pros” when dealing with the necessary clearances and background checks required by the military. However, the installation was not without a few obstacles. Even though the team received security clearance, they waited for an official escort onsite every day. This downtime would have derailed a less efficient team, but not Sunbelt Rentals. There were also occasions when work onsite halted for VIP scheduled flights, but the team persisted, and the installation met the estimated three-week timeframe.
Sunbelt Rentals' team takes pride in working closely with clients to plan and execute projects quickly and efficiently. The entire Marine One project from the initial contact with the client spanned just 60 days.
The Result.jpg?width=300&name=Open%20Endwall%20(2).jpg)
The MTS™ is standing firm onsite and continues performing splendidly as the semi-permanent home for the Marine One fleet. It will remain in operation until the renovation of the original hangar is complete. The client’s construction work continues and is expected to finish on time.
The Takeaways
Military and government projects require a specialized partner. Sunbelt Rentals' team has broad experience working under stringent military guidelines and helping military, aviation and government clients build temporary structures that serve unique needs.
Sunbelt Rentals has a warehouse full of products that can be installed and operational in just a few days. Our portfolio of projects online shows hundreds of examples.
If you need a partner, who will consistently go the extra mile, call one of our expert project managers at Sunbelt Rentals.
