There’s a bit of a humorous saying in the airline industry: “A good landing is one you can walk away from. A great landing is one where they can use the plane again.” This is firmly tongue planted-in-cheek, but there’s a kernel of truth to it in that a smooth, safe landing makes a real difference to keeping airplanes operating the way they should.
The best way to maximize the chances of a safe landing is by providing quality airport runway paving to ensure planes have a smooth airstrip to land on when they touch down. However, runway paving is about far more than just providing the right surface. Here’s what else you need to know!
Standing Up to the Weight
Here’s an obvious statement: Aircrafts are pretty heavy. A commercial aircraft weighs more than 100 tons, and that’s before you’ve boarded a passenger or checked a piece of luggage on board. When you add in those factors, you’re looking at a lot of stress on the runway pavement, considering how often planes will need to use the airstrip.
That’s why you need to consider high-quality airport runway paving from the beginning. You’re going to have airplanes landing on the surface multiple times a day for several years, and even a slight error can prove disastrous. Above all else, when you’re considering paving an airport runway, you need to be sure the materials you’re using can handle the stress.
Using Pavement Properly
The kind of pavement that you use also changes depending on the way you plan to use that section of your runway. If you’re planning to park your airplanes on a section of pavement, that’s going to result in stress applied differently than if you’re taxiing to and from the gate.
This is why quality airport paving isn’t something that just happens. It exists through careful design and planning between experts who know the location and the land underneath the pavement properly. Just like with a highway, every detail is carefully and meticulously planned in order to maximize safety and minimize problems. Before any asphalt is mixed and laid down, it’s critical to know how you’re planning to use each runway section.
Minimizing Downtime
Airports are kind of like amusement parks in this manner: when something isn’t running on time, people get frustrated. And just like at an amusement park, it doesn’t matter what the issue is: people will get upset when things aren’t running properly even though it’s for their safety. That means you need to make sure your surface is easy to maintain and you’ve got the knowledge to keep it well cared for.
If you don’t have a first-rate maintenance staff, you’ll want to invest more in initial airport runway paving to limit risks and prevent problems. Either way, if you’re going to keep people on time for their destination, quality airport paving is a must. Whatever you need to do to keep your runway in top shape, the time and cost is worth it for a safe, enjoyable experience.
