Pease Air National Guard Base
Crunchy Tech installed FAA-compliant PA system at Pease Air National Guard Base Hangar 254, delivering clear audio for military ops.
- Client
- Pease Air National Guard Base
- Location
- Portsmouth, NH
- Industry
- Government
- Scope
- PA System
- Completed
- 2025
Project overview
FAA-Compliant PA System Installation
Crunchy Tech partnered with the 157th Air Refueling Wing to bring a new public-address system to Aircraft Hangar 254 at Pease Air National Guard Base. The goal sounded simple: loud, clear, reliable sound in every corner of the hangar. Our design and installation team built a system that handles crisp paging, safety calls, and ceremony speeches with equal clarity, meets FAA standards, and keeps up with the demands of daily aircraft maintenance.
Project challenges
Extreme Acoustics and Safety Constraints
Hangar 254 is a hard space for sound. Its huge open volume, reflective metal walls, and exposed steel beams created serious acoustic problems. Reverberation and slap-back made safety pages and operational briefings difficult to follow, a real risk in a fast-paced maintenance environment.
The upgrade also had to respect aviation-specific requirements. Every component had to clear aircraft wingspans, the system had to survive extreme and unpredictable temperature swings, and the work could not disrupt flight-line activity. On top of that, all equipment and rigging had to pass strict federal regulations and base safety protocols. The margin for error was zero.
Understanding the client's needs
Reliable Audio for Mission-Critical Operations
The 157th Air Refueling Wing was clear about the objective from day one. They needed a public-address system with strong speech intelligibility across the entire hangar, able to handle routine maintenance briefings, emergency safety calls, and formal military ceremonies with the same clarity and reliability.
Flexibility mattered just as much. Base leadership wanted control over all three audio zones, addressing them at once or targeting specific areas without affecting the others. They also wanted wireless microphones that could support multiple events at the same time, with no dropouts during a change-of-command ceremony or a guided visitor tour.
Working side by side with the client, we set out to strike that balance: strong technical performance, simple day-to-day operation, and full regulatory compliance. The result is a long-term asset that supports both daily operations and mission readiness.
Technical solutions
One platform, integrated subsystems
| Technology partner | Components | Role in project |
|---|---|---|
| Loudspeaker Deployment | 36 high-power full-range pendant loudspeakers | Delivered even SPL coverage and intelligibility across all three zones |
| Amplification & Processing | 4-channel / 4 kW power amplifier, multi-I/O DSP | Provided headroom, EQ, delay tuning, feedback suppression, and preset recall |
| Wireless Audio Input | 2 lavalier and 4 handheld wireless microphones | Flexible audio capture for briefings, ceremonies, and tours |
| Mounting & Infrastructure | FAA-compliant pendant rigging, integrated cabling | Safe, interference-free installation clear of aircraft paths |
Implementation methodology
Precision Design for a Mission-Critical Space
The Hangar 254 installation was executed through Crunchy Tech's integrated design-build methodology, which proved essential to completing a compliant, high-performance system inside an active military hangar. We started with detailed acoustic modeling to lock in the best speaker placement and zone configuration, aiming for even coverage without disruptive echoes.
Installation was handled with care. Work schedules were planned around maintenance and flight-line activity so neither was interrupted. FAA-compliant rigging and cabling were installed to spec, with all equipment suspended clear of aircraft movement paths and sightlines kept clean.
We coordinated closely with base personnel at every step, from concept to commissioning. The system met every operational goal and passed inspection on the first review, and it now offers simple, intuitive controls for daily use.
Aviation-Compliant Audio Architecture
To meet Hangar 254's strict operational and regulatory demands, Crunchy Tech delivered a distributed PA system built for rigor, resilience, and control. Every component was chosen and carefully placed to overcome the hangar's tough acoustics.
Acoustic modeling set the foundation. High-headroom amplification delivered power without distortion, and zone-based DSP gave the system the flexibility to adapt to any operational need. The result is a resilient, scalable solution that holds clear sound and full safety compliance in any scenario.
Results & impact
Improved Safety and Operational Readiness
The upgraded PA system has clearly changed how Hangar 254 communicates. Everyday operations and special events now run with clear, reliable sound, and speech intelligibility reaches from one end of the hangar to the other. Safety instructions, operational updates, and ceremonial addresses are heard and understood in every zone.
Reverberation and echo, once major obstacles, are now under control. Precise tuning and zone-specific EQ produced a balanced acoustic environment even in a space dominated by reflective metal. Wireless mics let teams run multiple events at once without interference, and preset configurations let staff reconfigure the system in seconds for maintenance, drills, or formal ceremonies with no manual re-patching.
The client walked away with a dependable, aviation-compliant audio solution that supports the base's mission while making daily communication faster, safer, and more efficient.
- Crystal-clear speech intelligibility from one end of Hangar 254 to the other
- Reverberation and echo tamed despite reflective metal surfaces
- Zone-specific EQ delivers balanced audio across every operational area
- Wireless mics support multiple concurrent events without interference
- Preset configurations let staff switch modes in seconds — no re-patching
- FAA-compliant audio that supports the base's mission daily
Finishing the project
Delivered to Military Standards
The Hangar 254 project at Pease Air National Guard Base demonstrates Crunchy Tech's ability to deliver high-caliber, aviation-compliant audio under strict requirements. Careful planning, detailed acoustic design, and precise installation kept the project on schedule, and the system passed all FAA and base safety inspections on the first review.
Pairing military-grade audio technology with a real understanding of the client's mission, the 157th Air Refueling Wing now has a communications tool as dependable as the airmen who use it. It was a high-stakes project, and one we were honored to take on and deliver.
Need an FAA-compliant or mission-critical audio system that has to pass inspection the first time? Let's talk about how Crunchy Tech can design it.
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