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Runways and pavements

 

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ASTM International and friction

30 September 2008 | By Mr. Frank B. Holt, Chairman of ASTM Committee E17 Vehicle Pavement Systems

ASTM International is one of the largest voluntary standards development organisations in the world, a trusted source for technical standards for materials, products, systems and services. Known for their high technical quality and market relevancy, ASTM International standards have an important role in the information infrastructure that guides design, manufacturing…

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Providing technical and industry expertise

1 August 2008 | By Barry Goff, Chairman, International Friction Pavement Association (IFPA)

The IFPA was created to focus beyond engineering and manufacturing, and bring in representation as we have done with our Board of Directors: someone from the airlines (Southwest) with a pilot's perspective; someone from the manufacturing side (Boeing); and others to begin looking at runway friction testing, from the end-users’…

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New loading modules for the pavement test vehicle

28 March 2008 | By Donald Barbagallo, Project Manager, FAA

From its dedication in 1999, the National Airport Pavement Test Facility (NAPTF), of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), has been tasked with conducting research on both rigid and flexible airport pavements. The facility offers a unique opportunity to study, instrument and record full-depth soil and pavement interactions under a…

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Development of friction testing in the UK

28 March 2008 | By Paul Fraser-Bennison, Aerodrome Standards Policy Officer, UK CAA Safety Regulation Group

On 6 February 1958, an aircraft crashed whilst making its third attempt to take off from Munich's Reim Airport. Twenty-three of the passengers and crew on board were killed. After a lengthy investigation, the cause of the accident was identified as slush on the runway. Fifty years later, this event…

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Friction testing in Sweden

30 November 2007 | By Fredrik Nilsson, Project Manager, Civil Engineering Department, Swedish CAA at Stockholm-Arlanda Airport and Pär Blom, Training officer, Field Department, Stockholm-Arlanda Airport

In the beginning of air traffic history only propeller aeroplanes were used. They had a landing speed of 60-100 km/h, compared to today’s jet aeroplanes which have a landing speed of 250-360 km/h. Therefore, in the past when friction did not seem as important, the airport personnel used their feet…

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Reducing runway incursions

31 July 2007 | By Richard Taylor, Head of Air Traffic Standards, CAA

Those entrusted with the safety of our aviation industry, frequently draw up lists of the most likely causes of a major incident. Over the past few years, runway incursions have moved closer to the top of these lists. Regrettably, this is not a new issue – the world’s worst aviation…

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Runway Friction Measurement Activities in the US

7 June 2007 | By Thomas J Yager, Senoir Research Engineer, NASA

During the past year, several new runway friction measurement activities have been initiated and progress has been made to improve measurement equipment, techniques and recommended procedures. The purpose of this article is to acquaint you, the reader, with recent developments including...

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A new approach to runway safety

3 April 2007 | By Tuuli Daavittila, Tom Hätinen, Head Investigator and Matts-Anders Nyberg, Deputy Director, Finavia

Over the last few years, international organisations have recommended various national and international campaigns that could be used to help improve flight safety culture at a national and global level. Finland has responded to these recommendations in a unique way and through a widely implemented campaign.

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Surface friction management at MSP

3 April 2007 | By Joshua Paurus and Jeff Mattson, Assistant Managers, Airside Operations Department, Minneapolis - St. Paul International Airport (MSP)

The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) is a public corporation of the State of Minnesota, USA. With staff of approximately 550 employees, the MAC owns and operates MSP and six reliever airports in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Operating much like a private business, the MAC pays expenses from the revenues…

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Friction and prediction

6 February 2007 | By John Croll, Research Officer and Test Pilot, Canadian National Research Council and Angelo Boccanfuso, Senior Development Officer (R&D), Transportation Development Centre, Transport Canada

Wet and icy runways are the leading cause of landing accidents worldwide. But, while timely and accurate information about runway surface conditions is critical, methods for assessing weather conditions vary from one country to another, and information communicated to pilots can vary from one airport to another. In some countries,…

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Twelve-month summer: friction testing at Arlanda

11 September 2006 | By Pär Blom, Training Officer – Field Department, Stockholm/Arlanda Airport

To ensure the safe take-off and landing of aircraft, it is essential for airports to provide pilots with an accurate assessment of runway surface conditions. Pär Blom explains the principles behind friction testing, one of aviation’s least celebrated, but most critical procedures.

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Profiling runways

16 June 2006 | By Marc Stet, member of the CROW Airport Study Group on PCN and the Study Group on Runway Roughness

Aircraft computer simulation is effective in identifying and assessing aircraft response to pavement roughness, as Marc Stet explains. The responsibility for runway roughness lies with each individual airport operating authority. ICAO’s Annex 14 contains only very general information regarding airfield pavement roughness.

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Paving the way for the A380

17 March 2006 | By Cyril Fabre, Pavement Manager, Airbus

In preparation for the increasing introduction of heavy aircraft and new types of landing gear (e.g. B777 and A380), AIRBUS, STBA and LCPC undertook an ambitious research programme to define a more efficient pavement design method.

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The IRFI – ready for the real world?

16 March 2005 | By Angelo Boccanfuso, Senior Development Officer (R&D), Transportation Development Centre, Transport Canada

The development of an international runway friction index is a testament to international cooperation within the aviation industry. Now with most technical milestones passed, Angelo Boccanfuso reports from the latest IMAPCR that further consensus on practical implementation and funding are now needed.

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Runway friction and strength research

16 March 2005 | By Adrian J. van Leest, Project Manager, CROW Research

This article from this Dutch research organisation outlines some of the recently finished and on-going projects dealing with airport pavement technology research in The Netherlands, including work on friction measurement devices and runway classification.