Grissom Air Reserve Base — KC-135 Tail Access

A Tall Aircraft in a Building That Wouldn't Get Taller

Accessing the upper tail section of a KC-135 is inherently difficult due to the aircraft's height, and traditional access equipment often requires overhead clearance the facility didn't have. Grissom also required approximately two feet of height adjustability, adding further engineering complexity.

Engineered Around the Building, Not Against It

JE partnered closely with Grissom maintenance personnel to understand operational requirements and physical constraints, engineering a custom fall protection and access solution that incorporated approximately two feet of height adjustability while remaining fully compatible with the facility's existing restrictions.

~2 Feet of Adjustability, Zero Facility Modifications

Grissom gained safe KC-135 tail maintenance access with the required height adjustability, fully compliant with existing facility restrictions — with zero facility modifications needed to accommodate the new system.

JE engineered a custom tail access and fall protection system incorporating approximately two feet of vertical adjustability — delivered entirely within Grissom's existing facility height restrictions, with no building modifications required.

Where This Project Connects

The same engineering that solved Grissom's height constraint applies wherever a facility's envelope, not the aircraft, is the binding limit.