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Airfields

Airfield pavements are intended primarily for airplane traffic in stationary, taxiing and takeoff/landing modes. HMA is a durable, high-strength pavement materials that is entirely appropriate for airfields. In fact, over 90 percent of the paved airfields in the U.S. are paved with HMA.

Hilo airport
Hilo airport
Figures 1 and 2: Paving Hilo Airport.


Assumed Traffic

Airplanes. A methodical and reasonably accurate estimation of the type and number of airplanes is essential in determining the proper pavement structural design. As with vehicular roads, heavy loads (e.g., jet liners, cargo planes) will control the design.

Design Considerations
Airfield pavement design is dominated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA has its own pavement specifications and design considerations.  The FAA has an Excel spreadsheet program to guide through design calculations at: http://www1.faa.gov/arp/engineering/software.cfm. Department of Defense (DOD) airfields are often specified using Army Corps of Engineers specifications.

Construction Considerations
Airfield pavement construction can be markedly different than vehicular roadway construction. Although these differences are too numerous to list here it should be noted that FAA compaction requirements are typically more stringent than State DOT, city or county requirements. This is because HMA paving by the FAA is generally intended for airport pavements, which experience less traffic and have different operating requirements (e.g. up to 60,000 lb. wheel loads, grooving and rubber removal) (Rapol, 2001). Generally the FAA believes its aircraft pavements need 1 to 1.5 percent more initial density than vehicular pavements to meet their functional requirements (Rapol, 2001).

Recommended Reference

 

Recommended Minimum Pavement Thickness and Design (inches)

To be determined using an approved procedure.

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