1. Rubber Tire Buildup Removal at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Quintin Watkins,P.E.
Prime Engineering, Inc., Atlanta, GA
Rick Boudreau, P.E.
Boudreau Engineering, Atlanta, GA
Rob Rau, CM and Heinz Hansen, CM
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
2010 FAA Worldwide Airport Technology Transfer Conference
April 20-22, 2010, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA

2. HARTSFIELD-JACKSON ATLANTA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
5 Runways
2 Arrivals –
9L (1972) & 8R (2006)
2 Departures –
9R (1999) & 8L (1984)
1 Mixed –
10/28 (2006)
1,400 Peak Daily Arrivals
400,000 Landing Ops per year

3. WHY MEASURE FRICTION ON RUNWAYS?
“Contaminants, such as rubber deposits, dust particles, jet fuel, oil spillage, water, snow, ice and slush, all cause friction loss on runway pavement surfaces.”
“The most persistent contaminant problem is deposit of rubber from tires of landing jet aircraft”
“Heavy rubber deposits can completely cover the pavement surface texture causing loss of aircraft braking capability and directional control, particularly when runways are wet.”
Source: FAA AC 150/ C Paragraph 3-1

4. SARSYS FRICTION TESTER - SFT (SCANDINAVIAN AIRPORT AND ROAD SYSTEMS)
CFME- Continuous Friction Measuring Equipment The “Mu Value” is calculated by the horizontal force divided by the vertical force or by using the measured torque generated at the measuring tire. Runway friction coefficient (property of micro and macro surface)
SAAB 9-5
SAAB 9000

5. Source: FAA AC 150/5320-12C Paragraph 3-15(a)
TESTING PROCEDURE
“Friction surveys should be conducted 10 and 20 feet to the right of the runway centerline to determine the worst case condition.”
“The SFT is equipped with a self-wetting system to simulate rain wet pavement surface conditions and provide the operator with a continuous record of friction values along the length of the runway.”
Source: FAA AC 150/ C Paragraph 3-15(a)

6. TESTING FREQUENCY & REQUIRED Mu VALUES
FRICTION TESTING CONDUCTED ON
Arrival Runways BIWEEKLY
8L-26R, 9R-27L, 10-28
Departure Runways QUARTERLY
8R-26L, 9L-27R
Minimum Friction Level - .50
Maintenance Planning Friction Level - .60
Source: FAA AC 150/ C Table 3-2 ‘FRICTION LEVEL CLASSIFICATION FOR RUNWAY PAVEMENT SURFACES

7. Runway 8R-26L Mu Values at Opening 2006
Mu = 0.80 at opening

8. RUNWAY PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE & REMOVAL SCHEDULE
8L/26R
9R/27L
10/28
8R/26L
2005
11/05 (R)
2006
6/06 (C)
9/06 (C)
12/06 (C)
12/06 (R)
12/06 (S)
2007
4/07 (C)
3/07 (C)
8/07 (C)
7/07 (C)
11/07 (C)
12/07 (C)
10/07 (S)
2008
6/08 (C)
7/08 (C)
2009
2/09 (C)
4/09 (C)
7/09 (C)
12/09 (S)
No Maintenance required on Runway 9L
C- Chemical Removal
S- Shot Blast
R- Regrooved

9. Runway 9R-27L Mu Values before Chemical Removal

10. Runway 9R-27L Mu Values after Chemical Removal

11. Runway 9R-27L Mu Values before Shot Blasting

12. Runway 9R-27L Mu Values after Shot Blasting

13. Conclusions Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Uses a combination of
Chemical Removal average Friction Value of 0.80
Shot Blasting average Friction Value of 0.90

14. QUESTIONS ???
THANK YOU!