Adelaide Airport began resurfacing its runways and taxiways as part of routine maintenance on Wednesday, October 4.
The overlay operations, which must be done every 10 to 12 years, are part of Adelaide Airport’s regular maintenance programme to ensure the safety of all aircraft. By August 2024, the resurfacing work should be finished.
Adelaide Airport Managing Director, Brenton Cox, said the pavement resurfacing would require significantly more asphalt than that used to reseal roads around Adelaide, adding,
“This is a significant, logistically complex project.
Each night our project team will remove and then re-surface each section of runway or taxiway and be completed in time for the regular 6 AM aircraft departures the following morning,”
Runway and Taxiways
Runways are the launching and landing zones for aircraft. The routes that connect the runway ends are known as taxiways.
Airport operation and safety, like aeroplanes, rely on routine maintenance. This entails routinely cleaning and clearing runways, taxiways, and parking lots to eliminate potential impediments.
By taking into account a variety of considerations, including:
- All runway markings and signage
- Loose materials or any other potential hazard
- All airfield lighting and any signs of damage
- All paved areas and Foreign Object Damage (FOD)
- Pro-active bird control
- Chemical or oil spillage
- Always be on the lookout for aircraft
Mr Cox confirms that :
“The airport will also replace about 660 first-generation LED light fittings on our runway and taxiways with more energy efficient LED lighting to help further reduce our carbon footprint.”
Adelaide Airport Resurfacing
Most of the work will be carried out between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. at the airport to limit interruption to planned services.
Mr Cox confirms,
“All up the resurfacing project requires more than 60,000 tonnes of asphalt to cover 413,000 square metres of runway and taxiways.
The same amount of asphalt would be enough to reseal a 40km stretch of road between Adelaide and McLaren Vale.”
During these times, the cross runway, which runs southeast to north-west, will be used for the limited number of freight and emergency aircraft permitted to fly between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., averaging ten each night and up to fifteen on a busy night.
Mr Cox added,
“We have been notifying neighbouring residents and those under the cross runway flight path BEFORE the main runway closures so that they are aware there may be increased noise impact.
This is essential maintenance but we recognise there will be disruptions to local communities and thank them for their patience and understanding over the coming months.
“We will undertake additional measures to reduce the noise impact, such as limiting delivery of materials to daylight hours and replacing the reverse ‘beeper’ sound on large vehicles.”
August 2024 And Beyond
The current runway and taxiway surfaces have served Adelaide Airport since 2010/2011 and are now required for refurbishment to guarantee continuing operational effectiveness.
This massive asphalt resurfacing (overlay) project of the runway and taxiways will assure the safety and serviceability of aircraft operations at Adelaide Airport for the next 10-12 years.
The current incandescent runway lights and first-generation LED taxiway fitting will be replaced alongside the overlay work with more energy-efficient LED light fittings, helping to lower our carbon footprint and achieve Adelaide Airport’s sustainability goals.
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