Airport runways are subject to the
same stresses and high levels of
trafficking encountered on highways.

Sliding action of high pressure low hysteresis tyres places
great emphasis on the tyre/aggregate interface. This is
intensified by the stresses during touchdown, braking and
high speed turn-offs. Cross-winds and undercarriage
configurations also contribute to reducing braking efficiency.

The introduction of CAP683
has focussed airport operations
management on the importance
of runway friction and drainage
characteristics.

The consequent reduction of
friction levels caused by
surface polishing and rubber
build up is a major and ever
increasing concern.

Numeric rather than descriptive
periodic assessment enables exact measurement and provides greater consistency between airports.

Removal of "spin-up" tyredeposits and other contaminants further improves runway friction.

A poorly maintained wet wearing course can lead
to aquaplaning and consequent aircraft taxiway
overshoots or complete runoffs.

Poor drainage caused by inadequate macrotexture
leads to bulk water removal problems and resultant
dynamic aquaplaning. Insufficient microtexture of
the polished surface results in problematic friction
levels due to the retained water film on each
individual piece of aggregate causing viscous aquaplaning.