Significant Activity Reports

2005 Archive

DEC. 9, 2005
NOV. 11, 2005
OCT. 28, 2005
OCT. 21, 2005
SEP. 23, 2005
JULY 15, 2005
JULY 8, 2005
JUNE 10, 2005
JUNE 3, 2005

Significant Activities For The Week Ending Dec 9, 2005

International Civil Aviation Organizations' (ICAO) Visual Aids Working Group

Donald Gallagher of the Airport Technology R&D Branch, Airport Safety Section, participated in the 2nd International Civil Aviation Organizations' (ICAO) Visual Aids Working Group (VAWG) held in London, England November 28-December 1, 2005. Discussions were held on LAHSO lighting, runway incursion prevention and new technology implementation. The US will host a subgroup meeting on Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology issues in Atlantic City, New Jersey April 2006. The 3rd meeting of the VAWG will be held in Rome, Italy, June 2006.

Donald Gallagher, AJP-6311, (609) 485-4583, 12/08/05

Thermoplastic Marking Material Meeting at Dallas Fort Worth (DFW).

Holly Cyrus of AAR-411 and Renee Frierson of Hi-Tec Systems met with Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) representatives concerning the airports use of thermoplastic marking material for airport pavement markings. DFW has used this material on their airport for 5 years. The FAA is presently planning an evaluation of this material to determine it’s acceptability for incorporation into FAA Specifications. The evaluation will start this spring at the FAA Technical Center.

Holly Cyrus, AJP-6311AR-411, (609) 485-4887

Significant Activities For The Week Ending Nov. 11, 2005

Paul Jones and John-Paul Schilling from the Airport Technology Research and Development Branch attended the Latin American/Caribbean/U.S. Aviation and Airport Issues Forum held in Miami, Florida on October 16-18, 2005. The U.S. Department of Commerce, the Federal Aviation Administration, the American Association of Airport Executives, and the International Association of Airport Executives hosted the conference. Over 60 representatives from Industry, Government, and Abroad attended, including executives from: Argentina, Guatemala, Nicaragua, West Indies, Peru, Chile, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. Topics of discussion at the conference were geared towards Latin American/Caribbean issues such as Airline and Airport Safety Enhancements, Security Trends and Solutions, Financing, and Airport Infrastructure issues. Paul participated on the Airport Safety Enchantments Panel.

Paul Jones, AJP-6311, (609) 485-6713, 11/9/05


A group of 21 Italian Air Force engineers and University of Naples Professors visited the Airport Technology Research and Development Branch on November 8, 2005. This technical visit was part of a one-year master level course specializing in Airport Infrastructure. Airport Safety Technology and Airport Pavement programs were presented. Since these individuals were very experienced in airport issues, the exchange of information was very productive. Their visit to the United States included Chicago O’Hare airport and New York City.

Paul Jones, AJP-6311, (609) 485-6713, 11/9/05

Significant Activities For The Week Ending Nov. 18, 2005

Latin American/Caribbean/US Aviation and Airport Issues Forum: Paul Jones and John-Paul Schilling of the Airport Technology Research and Development Branch attended the Latin American/Caribbean/U.S. Aviation and Airport Issues Forum held in Miami, Florida, on October 16-18. The U.S. Department of Commerce, the FAA, the American Association of Airport Executives, and the International Association of Airport Executives hosted the conference. Over 60 representatives from industry, government, and abroad attended, including executives from: Argentina, Guatemala, Nicaragua, West Indies, Peru, Chile, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. Topics of discussion at the conference concentrated on Latin American/Caribbean issues such as airline and airport safety enhancements, security trends and solutions, financing, and airport infrastructure issues. Paul Jones participated on the Airport Safety Enhancements Panel.

Point of Contact: Dr. David Brill, AJP-6310 (AAR-410), (609) 485-5198

Italian Visitors: A group of 21 Italian Air Force engineers and University of Naples Professors visited the Airport Technology Research and Development Branch on November 8, as part of a one-year master level course specializing in airport infrastructure. FAA researchers provided information on and discussed Airport Safety Technology and Airport Pavement programs with group. Since these individuals were very experienced in airport issues, the exchange of information was very productive. Their visit to the United States included Chicago O’Hare Airport and New York City.

Point of Contact: Paul Jones, ATO-P, (609) 485-6713

Significant Activities For The Week Ending Oct.28, 2005

New Research Aircraft Fire Fighting Vehicle Delivered: This week the Airport Technology R&D program received a new research vehicle. For over 13 years, FAA Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting researchers have relied on their High Performance Research Vehicle, an Emergency One Titan 4x4 fire fighting vehicle built and procured in 1992, to achieve significant safety advances. For example, under an Interagency Agreement between the FAA and the U. S. Air Force Research Laboratory, researchers developed many fire and rescues innovations, including: the Driver’s Enhanced Vision System; the Snozzle™ High Reach Extendible Turret; High Reach Extendible Turrets with aircraft skin penetrating devices; the Rhino™ multi-position high performance bumper turret; vehicle suspension enhancements; and the lateral G-force indicator for vehicle stability. With the upcoming introduction of the new Airbus 380 aircraft in 2006, researchers anticipate the need for extensive live fire testing to develop standards for fire protection for the new aircraft, which will carry twice the number of passengers and twice the amount of fuel as most current passenger jets. The size of the new large aircraft and the need for more sophisticated test and development methods, lead the FAA to acquire a new state-of-the-art research vehicle.
With final specifications developed by FAA researchers, the new aircraft rescue and fire fighting vehicle is significantly larger than the older model with room for up to 6,000 pounds of additional installed equipment, such as the next generation elevated boom. It has as water tank capacity of 2,500 gallons, dual foam tanks to carry two fire fighting agents, and an electronic foam proportioning system for better control of foam injection and better monitoring of the tracking agent used in testing. The vehicle also carriers two complimentary agents, Halotron and dry chemical. For optimum vehicle handling and tire wear, the vehicle has rear wheel steering capabilities.

Point of Contact: Keith Bagot, ATO-P, (609) 485-6383


Strategic Plan for North American Bird Strike Advisory System Reviewed: Inter-agency researchers reviewed the North American Bird Strike Advisory Draft Strategic Plan at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs on October 27. The Strategic Plan details a multi-agency research and development effort to take place over five years that will result in the creation of an integrated Bird Strike System for the United States and Canada. The draft plan was developed jointly by FAA, U.S. Air Force and Transport Canada. The vision statement of the Strategic Plan is to “produce a real-time and widely available North American Bird Strike Advisory System that protects aircrew, passengers, and aircraft.” The system will make use of bird detection data using radar to map hazards in real-time and risk modeling to estimate risks.

Point of Contact: Michel Hovan, ATO-P, (609) 485-5552


Standards for Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Vehicles: On October 25-27, personnel from the Airport Technology R&D Branch, Airport Safety Section attended the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) Technical Committee meetings in Las Vegas, Nevada. Over 50 people from the ARFF industry and several nations attended the committee meetings. The attendees included firefighters, product manufacturers, and various federal government agencies. Attendees focused their discussions on the revision to NFPA 414, Standards for Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Vehicles.

Point of Contact: Keith Bagot, ATO-P, (609) 485-6383

Test of All-Strobe Lighting: On October 19, personnel from the Airport's Visual Guidance Program conducted an initial check out of a new concept in Approach Lighting Systems (ALS) on runway 4 at the William J. Hughes Technical Center. This design, which consists of all-strobe lighting with no steady burning lights, takes advantage of the very short duration, but very high intensity, of the typical condenser discharge lamp. Possible benefits of the system could include no adverse affect upon the pilot's nighttime vision throughout the approach and landing phases of flight. Flight evaluations in various weather conditions are planned. This Congressional directive project is being conducted for the Lighting Systems Office in Washington, DC.

Point of Contact: Donald Gallagher, ATO-P, (609) 485-4583

New Runway Groves: Runways in the United States are grooved to reduce the potential for hydroplaning. The grooves facilitate the evacuation of excessive water from the surface of the runway to the shoulders. The FAA maintains a current standard for runway grooves which have a cross-sectional dimension of ¼”x ¼”. The grooves are cut transversely across the width of the runway and are spaced on 1 ½” centers. A proposed new shape is being evaluated that may offer performance improvements over the existing standard. During the week of October 3, personnel from the Airport Technology R&D Branch demonstrated the new alternative runway groove geometry by cutting grooves in a 600 ft. section of Taxiway Bravo at the Atlantic City International Airport. The demonstration was the first step in a phased evaluation that will include a comprehensive evaluation of the feasibility of construction, durability, friction characteristics, and comparative water evacuation performance between the new groove shape and the current standard. Data collection and observation will continue on a periodic basis over the next year to determine the merits of this alternative.

Point of Contact: Ryan King, ATO-P, (609) 485-8816

Post Traffic Testing of Asphalt Over Concrete Overlays: The National Airport Pavement Test Facility researchers recently completed traffic testing on their asphalt over concrete overlay pavements and has begun post traffic testing. Post traffic testing includes trenches through the depth of the pavement structure and into the soil below to measure the deformation created by aircraft loading. This forensic process requires dismantling the pavement layer by layer while conducting various tests for strength and density on the individual layers to detect changes in the pavement materials due to aircraft loads. As part of the process, the five-inch thick asphalt overlay was removed with a milling machine. The millings were recycled by using them to pave approximately 1500 feet of the perimeter road along Wescoat Road, thus improving the road for all and minimizing materials going to landfill.

Point of Contact: Gordon Hayhoe, ATO-P, (609) 485-8555

Significant Activities For The Week Ending Oct.21, 2005

Prototype Bird Detection Radar Tests at the Fermi National Laboratory. During the week of October 10, detection and calibration tests were conducted with the prototype bird detection radar at the Fermi National Laboratory, Chicago, Illinois. The site was selected for its abundance of migratory and resident Canada geese and its proximity to the Chicago O’Hare airport. Large bird detection tests using radar were confirmed against ground-truthing visual observations at various ranges up to 3.5 km. In addition, specific calibration tests were conducted using a calibration sphere flown at various altitudes and ranges. These types of tests are labor intensive, bird specific, and bird dependent. Overall the tests were successful and the data will be used in the upcoming development of technical specifications for an improved prototype bird detection radar. The long-term goal of this project is to develop a real-time detection tool that can be used as part of a National Airport Bird Strike Advisory System.

Point of Contact: Michel Hovan, ATO-P, (609) 485-5552, 10/20/05

Significant Activities For The Week Ending Sep, 23, 2005

ICAO-SAM SEMINAR AND WORKSHOP ON AIRFIELD PAVEMENT DESIGN, BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA: Dr. David R. Brill of the Airport Technology R&D Branch attended the ICAO-SAM/ALACPA/FAA/ACI-NA Seminar on Airfield Pavement Design and Workshop on New FAA Design Software for Airport Pavement Thickness Design, held in Bogotá, Colombia, on September 11-16, 2005. The ICAO South American Regional Office (SAM) and the Latin American and Caribbean Association of Airport Pavements (ALACPA) sponsored the meeting. Representatives from 22 countries from throughout the Latin American and Caribbean regions, as well as the US attended the meeting. In addition to the FAA, the US delegation included a representative from the Boeing Aircraft Co. Dr. Brill gave a presentation covering the results of recent concrete pavement full-scale tests conducted at the FAA’s National Airport Pavement Test Facility (NAPTF) located at the William J. Hughes Technical Center. In addition, Dr. Brill, along with Ms. Lia Ricalde of SRA/Galaxy, Inc., conducted a one-day airport pavement design workshop aimed at users of FAA design software. This FAA workshop, which was presented in English with simultaneous translation into Spanish, covered such topics as the LEDFAA 1.3 design program, and new pavement design software (FEDFAA Beta) incorporating 3D finite element solutions. 196 participants from over 20 countries attended the workshop. As part of the weeklong program, Dr. Brill also participated in a two-day short course on managing ICAO Annex 14 and related documents.

Point of Contact: Dr. David Brill, AJP-6310 (AAR-410), (609) 485-5198

Significant Activities For The Week Ending July 15, 2005

Bearing Capacity of Roads, Railways and Airfields (BCRA’05). Dr. David R. Brill of the Airport Technology R&D Branch attended the 7th International Conference on the Bearing Capacity of Roads, Railways and Airfields, June 27-29, in Trondheim, Norway. The conference was attended by representatives from 35 countries. Other US participants included representatives from Federal Highway Administration, US Army Engineer Research and Development Center, University of Illinois Center of Excellence for Airport Technology, and Boeing Aircraft Company. Dr. Brill presented two papers, covering the results of recent concrete pavement full-scale tests conducted at the National Airport Pavement Test Facility, and an analysis of sensitivity to various input parameters of Federal Aviation Administration airport pavement thickness design procedures. Before the main conference, Dr. Brill attended a workshop on Recycled Materials in Pavement Construction, held in Oslo, Norway on June 25, to give a presentation on rubblized pavement testing currently in progress at the NAPTF.

Point of Contact: Dr. David Brill, AJP-6310 (AAR-410), (609) 485-5198

Significant Activities For The Week Ending July 8, 2005

ICAO Aerodrome Panel's Visual Aids Working Group: On June 13, Donald Gallagher from the Airport Safety Technology R&D Section traveled to Montreal, Canada, to attend the 1st meeting of the new reorganized International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Aerodrome Panel's Visual Aids Working Group. The meeting was held at ICAO headquarters from June 14-18, and was attended by 25 representatives from member states around the world. Discussions were focused into sub groups of this body consisting of Visual aid for Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control Systems (A-SMGCS), Approach Lighting Configuration, Visual Cueing for Helicopter Operations, Photometric Performance and Obstacle Marking and Lighting.

Point of Contact: Donald Gallagher, ATO-P, (609) 485-4583

Annual Center for General Aviation Research (CGAR) Meeting: On June 20, Paul Jones and Donald Gallagher from the Airport Safety Technology R&D Section traveled to Fairbanks, Alaska for the annual CGAR meeting held June 21-22. In addition to attending this meeting, both participated in the Remote Airfield Lighting System's (RALS) project meeting. The objective of the RALS team is to develop visual cues for airfields that serve a small community having little to no roadway infrastructure; aircraft is the main connection to health care facilities and supply sources. It has been identified that most airports in the state of Alaska fit this criteria. Alaska also offers a challenging climate, which is an additional challenge for the RALS team.

Point of Contact: Paul Jones, ATO-P, (609) 485-6713

Significant Activities For The Week Ending June 10, 2005

Keynote Speech: Dr. Gordon Hayhoe of the Airport Technology R&D Branch was a keynote speaker at the Second Gulf Forum for Airport Pavement Engineers, sponsored in association with Airport Expo Dubai, United Arab Emirates on May 24-25. The meeting focused on the changes required in airport design and operations to handle the Airbus 380 aircraft. Dr. Hayhoe discussed the new FAA airport pavement thickness design standards for new heavy aircraft, including the A380, and the latest full-scale pavement loading results from the FAA’s National Airport Pavement Test Facility (NAPTF). He also discussed how NAPTF test data has been used to develop a new six-wheel traffic volume factor for calculating pavement loading factors according to the ICAO’s ACN-PCN standard. Both the B-777 and the A380 aircraft have six-wheel landing gears. Attendees at the meeting included representatives from civil and military government agencies, airport designers and operators, and pavement construction and engineering services companies. A representative of Airbus also gave a keynote address describing the latest test results from the Airbus pavement experimental program.

Point of Contact: Gordon Hayhoe, ATO-P, (609) 485-8555

Runway Threshold Light Research: Donald Gallagher from the Airport Technology R&D Branch conducted a project close-out meeting of the Light Emitting Diode (LED) prototype Runway Threshold Lights at the Grand Forks International Airport, Grand Forks, North Dakota on June 6. Researchers evaluated the LED lights, successfully in operation for one year at the airport. The FAA’s Center for General Aviation Research (CGAR) undertook the data collection and analysis. Their final report will be delivered July 2005.

Point of Contact: Donald Gallagher, ATO-P, (609) 485-4583

Significant Activities For The Week Ending June 3, 2005

Engineered Material Arresting System (EMAS): The installation of a large-scale Engineered Material Arresting System (EMAS) environmental durability test bed took place at the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center during the week of May 9. This research project is part of a continuing cooperative effort between the FAA’s Airport Technology Safety R&D Section and Engineered Systems Co. (ESCO) being carried out through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRDA). EMAS beds can be installed at airports, which have substandard Runway Safety Areas (RSA). The energy absorbing characteristics of an EMAS’s cellular concrete material decelerate overrunning aircraft and help to reduce the potential for aircraft damage and injury to passengers. The environmental durability test bed is instrumented with over 100 sensors that will provide temperature, humidity, and load data. Additional data will be collected from an adjacent weather station. Project engineers are hopeful that long term monitoring of the bed and analysis of the data will yield important insight into material response to environmental condition changes and lead to predictive trends for long-term durability forecasts.

Point of Contact: Ryan King, ATO-P, (609) 485-8816

 

Last Update: 04/25/08