In fact, before nightfall, the first paved runway had already been completed.
Undoubtedly, battlefield engineering capability has always been a proud specialty of the Imperial Army, and this fine tradition has been maintained for over a hundred years.
Furthermore, building field airports near the front lines is actually the most basic engineering capability.
Don't forget, in the decades following the Second Global War, the Imperial Army primarily focused on the continental battlefield aimed at the West Continent Group.
Thus, one has to face a very tricky problem.
On a continental battlefield with a width and depth of several thousand kilometers, it's simply impossible to build Air Force bases as per operational needs, nor can enough airstrips be maintained. The huge peacetime maintenance costs are enough to deter the Imperial Army, not to mention the criticisms from the two Houses of Parliament.
