The past two years have had a drastic effect on the aviation and air travel industries, from flight cancellations to airport closures. But now that the world is going back to normal, there is one operational aspect that has become even more important for airports than it was before: safety.
Beyond in-flight measures, training, and protocols, your airport’s infrastructure can significantly impact its efficiency and safety. Specifically, the quality of an airport’s paving can impact its safety standards.
Keeping your airfield maintained means keeping your runways in ideal conditions, free of debris, and safe even in suboptimal weather conditions. Unsure where to start with your airport pavement maintenance? Check out this guide by the safety and airport paving experts at Ajax Paving.
Airport Pavement Management Program (PMP)
Whether you are managing a small airfield or a large, commercial airport, chances are that you have to manage miles worth of runways and acres of paving. Keeping on top of every square foot of pavement can be extremely tough. That is where PMP protocols—also known as Airport Pavement Management Systems (APMS)—can help.
According to the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), an Airport Pavement Management Program (PMP) is essential to maintain the airfield’s safety and efficiency, while also reducing maintenance costs and extending the life of the airport’s infrastructures. The ultimate goals of a PMP are to:
- Increase the airfield’s safety
- Ensure airlines and passengers can count on an operable pavement system
- Provide maintenance at the least cost
- Offer airport owners the best ROI
A tailored PMP can also help you identify the right maintenance schedule for your airport and pinpoint the right time to invest maintenance funds. >
What To Include in Your PMP
PMPs are fully tailored to the needs of your airport. However, there is some information that you should not overlook in your protocol. These items include:
Pavement Inventory
A single runway can be as long as 2,500-4,000 meters, and an airport might have more than one. With so much acreage of pavement to look after, it is essential to have an inventory that includes the dimensions and location of runways and taxiways, as well as the type of pavement used and its age.
A Defined Schedule for Inspection and Maintenance
Detailed inspections should be performed once a year, though many airports only perform them every three years. Airport owners might also perform drive-by inspections each month to ensure that there are no major issues with the airfield’s pavement. A PMP might also specify the best time for paving jobs and define when to invest funds for maximum ROI.
Record
From detailed inspections to drive-by checks, airport owners or maintenance managers should keep a record of pavement quality, distress noticed, and maintenance actions that might have been taken.
Other Considerations
You might also consider adding a list of best practices within your PMP that will allow you to extend the lifespan of your airfield, runways, and taxiways. From training your stakeholders to tracking pavement maintenance activities, your PMP plays a vital role in helping you look after your airport’s safety and efficiency.
Partnering With An Expert Airport Paving Company
Not all airports will have the same PMP, and each airfield might have a different repaving schedule. However, with a regular maintenance plan in place, your airport pavement, runways, and taxiways should be able to stand the test of time, providing safe infrastructure for passengers and pilots for over 20 years.
Partnering with the airport paving experts at Ajax Paving can help you understand the unique needs of your airfield, discover the latest paving technologies, pinpoint the best time to invest your funds, and extend the lifespan of your airport pavement.
Ajax Paving Company: The Future of Pavement Solutions in Michigan, Florida, and the Midwest
Ajax Paving Company provides smoother, quieter, longer-lasting roadways, runways, and racetracks from North to South. We pride ourselves on our always on-time delivery, trueness to specs, and respect for the budget. See our work with Airport Runways in Florida or Airport Runways in Michigan to see how the future rides on our next-level pavement maintenance, repair, and installation.