Jeffrey Gagnon, a speaker at the Airfield Engineering and Asset Management Conference, talks to Bryan Camoens on the issues airfields are facing across the globe, as well as the challenges and solutions for airfield expansion and renewal projects.
Bryan Camoens:
What are some of the issues that airfields are facing across the globe?
Jeffrey Gagnon:
Airports have to become “greener” currently and in the future by using “green” technology in both existing and future development of both vertical and horizontal work. The issues of sustainability and sustainable practices in both design and construction and the use of life cycle assessment (LCA) all fall under the umbrella of “Green” technology. Another issue which will be quickly effecting airfield pavements is the increase in aircraft tire pressures of future aircraft and those aircraft about to enter into the commercial fleets from Boeing and Airbus, in-particular the B-787 and A-350 where tire pressure are increasing from 218 psi to over 250 psi. Industry is unsure how these new aircraft will affect the life of the current pavements in place at numerous airfields and if current mix designs for asphalt pavement are sufficient for these new aircraft.
The other issue these new aircraft are affecting is the ICAO load rating system of Pavement Classification Number (PCN) and whether this classification system should be reviewed and revised to meet the future needs of the aircraft manufactures and airport authorities (owners).
Bryan Camoens:
Could you please elaborate on some of the challenges and solutions for airfield expansion and renewal projects?
Jeffrey Gagnon:
Maximizing benefits while minimizing costs. The need for the optimization of pavement design to provide longer life pavements at less costs and the use of full scale testing data in the refinement and the design, as well as, providing information for a better understanding of how pavements truly react under aircraft loading. Being a good neighbor and involving not just the stake holders such as the airport authority, airlines and tenants but also the surrounding community and providing a forum where the voices and concerns can be expressed.
Bryan Camoens:
What key issues need to be taken into account when attempting to maximise safety and efficiency for airports?
Jeffrey Gagnon:
Understanding, if any, the correlation between friction measurements values (mu values) from Continuous Friction Measuring Devices used at airports and how the landing aircraft handles and reacts to those friction measurements.
Bryan Camoens:
Given the considerable economic growth in the region, what steps need to be taken to ensure a world class regulatory and development environments for the Asia Pacific?
Jeffrey Gagnon:
The ability of governments, agencies and others (not just within the Asia Pacific region) to provide the ability to transfer technology within the aviation field between one another and to learn from other’s mistakes, as well as, triumphs. Another step would be the required cooperation between regulatory agencies within each country with one another to steam line the processes required within the aviation field.
Bryan Camoens:
With weather conditions becoming fiercer every year, what tactics can be used for mitigating the impact of cold climates on pavement condition and maintenance requirements?
Jeffrey Gagnon:
Improvement of the QA/QC procedures with possible 100% testing of in place material by such methods as Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), improvement to materials by either natural or man made admixtures and improved mix design procedures.
Bryan Camoens:
Given the tremendous use of the airfields throughout the day how do you go about developing effective maintenance planning and scheduling strategies?
Jeffrey Gagnon:
Prioritization of the maintenance and rehabilitation programs with the use of Airport Pavement Management Systems (APMS) that have logic that is factually based and the use of high-quality data.
Because if the quality of inputted data is high but the logic is flawed the results will still be poor or mismanagement of funds. “Less bang for your buck”
Bryan Camoens:
What are some of the yet to be put in place untapped opportunities in airfield engineering and asset management?
Jeffrey Gagnon:
The use of fully automated data collection systems to inspect airfield pavements quickly and efficiently possibly being able to inspect 100% of the pavements each year rather than only 20 to 30% per year.
The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and/or neural networks in the analysis of this data so the subjectively of individuals can be removed from the pavement condition inspection.
Bryan Camoens:
Given the rapid development in the sector and aircrafts becoming much larger, how will the airfield engineering and asset management sector evolve over the next decade?
Jeffrey Gagnon:
Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) certification of horizontal work at airports, which will include not just airside but landside projects.
The increase of pavement design life from 20 to 30 or even 40 years and the maintenance and rehabilitation issues surrounding this increase in pavement life.
Note: The content of the above answers reflect the views of the interviewee, who is responsible for the facts and accuracy of the data presented. The replies do not necessarily reflect the official views and policies of the FAA.
We would like to thank Bryan for his kind permission to reprint this interview.