• News
    • Tech
    • Lifestyle
    • Business
    • Opinion
    • Premium
  • Reviews
  • Events
    • Nigeria
    • South Africa
  • Tools
    • Price Guide
    • Find your idea car
    • Car valuation
    • Sell your car
    • Car insurance quote
    • Locate a dealer
    • Deals
  • For Sale
    • New Cars for sale
    • Cheap Cars for sale
    • Bikes for sale
    • Trucks for sale
    • Boats for sale
    • Jets for sale in Africa
    • Cars under 5m
    • EV in Nigeria
    • EV in South Africa
Saturday, June 21, 2025
  • Login
Auto Journal Africa
  • News
    • Tech
    • Lifestyle
    • Business
    • Opinion
    • Premium
  • Reviews
  • Events
    • Nigeria
    • South Africa
  • Tools
    • Price Guide
    • Find your idea car
    • Car valuation
    • Sell your car
    • Car insurance quote
    • Locate a dealer
    • Deals
  • For Sale
    • New Cars for sale
    • Cheap Cars for sale
    • Bikes for sale
    • Trucks for sale
    • Boats for sale
    • Jets for sale in Africa
    • Cars under 5m
    • EV in Nigeria
    • EV in South Africa
Ask Autojorunal AI
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Tech
    • Lifestyle
    • Business
    • Opinion
    • Premium
  • Reviews
  • Events
    • Nigeria
    • South Africa
  • Tools
    • Price Guide
    • Find your idea car
    • Car valuation
    • Sell your car
    • Car insurance quote
    • Locate a dealer
    • Deals
  • For Sale
    • New Cars for sale
    • Cheap Cars for sale
    • Bikes for sale
    • Trucks for sale
    • Boats for sale
    • Jets for sale in Africa
    • Cars under 5m
    • EV in Nigeria
    • EV in South Africa
No Result
View All Result
Morning News
No Result
View All Result
Home Read a ride Aerospace

The hidden secret of airport runways you didn’t know about

David Ijaseun by David Ijaseun
July 15, 2023
in Aerospace
0
Airplane on Airport runway

Airport runway

0
SHARES
8.3k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

In the world of aviation, maintaining safe and reliable runways is of utmost importance. But have you ever wondered how often airport runways need to be repaved and what factors determine this need? Let’s delve into this essential aspect of airport maintenance.

In the early days of aviation and until the end of the Second World War, runways were mostly grass or dirt strips. However, exceptions existed, with Michelin in France and Henry Ford building concrete runways for their private use. Nowadays, the two primary materials used for paved runways are asphalt and concrete.

READ ALSO

Otto Aviation’s Phantom 3500 jet targets zero-emissions flight by 2030

Air India flight to London crashes after takeoff in Ahmedabad with 242 on board

For large commercial airports handling heavy airliners, reinforced concrete runways are the preferred choice. Meanwhile, airports that cater to lighter planes can suffice with asphalt runways. When constructed correctly, a well-maintained runway can last for several decades.

A common challenge that airports face is dealing with rubber deposits left by aircraft tires. Upon landing, aircraft tires leave rubber marks on the runway. Over time, these marks accumulate, making the surface slippery when wet. This rubber build-up can affect braking and lead to runway overruns. To combat this issue, airports use chemicals and high-pressure water to remove the rubber.

Another concern for runway maintenance is the impact of weather conditions. Airports located in areas with freezing winters and scorching summers experience more stress on their runways. Additionally, the weight and stress of aircraft operating on the runway, as well as the number and frequency of aircraft movements, play a significant role in determining the runway’s condition.

Depending on how well an airport manages these factors, a runway can last up to 30 years with regular maintenance. However, busy airports handling larger aircraft may need more frequent repaving than smaller regional airports.

As an example, London Heathrow Airport (LHR), one of the world’s busiest airports, resurfaces its runways approximately every ten years. The most recent resurfacing of its North and South Runways occurred in 2013, and Heathrow is gearing up for another round of runway work this summer. Fortunately, lower traffic volumes during the COVID-19 pandemic allowed for some repairs, simplifying the current project.

To minimize disruptions to air traffic and local communities, Heathrow plans to close one runway between 22:30 and 06:00 during the repaving process. Currently, Heathrow has few nighttime flights, and those it does have mainly arrive after 04:30.

The resurfacing work is scheduled to commence in September 2023 and continue until September 2025. Throughout the process, Heathrow aims to adhere to the following pattern:

– From Sunday evening until Friday morning (five days), all flights will use a single runway between 22:30 and 06:00.
– From Friday evening until Sunday morning, both runways will operate as usual.

Thankfully, daytime flights will remain unaffected by the runway resurfacing work, ensuring that passenger travel remains as smooth as possible.

While acknowledging the potential inconvenience to local communities due to aircraft noise during the construction period, Heathrow expressed its regret but deemed it unavoidable for the vital task of runway maintenance. With careful planning and cooperation, Heathrow aims to ensure the continued safety and efficiency of its operations, benefiting passengers and airlines alike.

Read more on: Hong Kong International Airport marks 25th year with 80,000 free air tickets

Tags: airport runwaysAround the worldHeadlinerunway maintenance

Related Posts

Phantom 3500 jet
Aerospace

Otto Aviation’s Phantom 3500 jet targets zero-emissions flight by 2030

June 19, 2025
plane crash in India
Aerospace

Air India flight to London crashes after takeoff in Ahmedabad with 242 on board

June 12, 2025
Trump lifts supersonic flight ban, paving way for faster air travel over U.S. skies
Aerospace

Trump lifts supersonic flight ban, paving way for faster air travel over U.S. skies

June 8, 2025
Nature meets aviation at world’s busiest airport as Atlanta revives hidden river
Aerospace

Nature meets aviation at world’s busiest airport as Atlanta revives hidden river

June 8, 2025
How China’s 500 Airbus Jets order could reshape global aviation market
Aerospace

How China’s 500 Airbus Jets order could reshape global aviation market

June 8, 2025
Dawn Aerospace
Aerospace

Dawn Aerospace launches $30m Aurora spaceplane for civilian ownership

June 3, 2025
Next Post
Airport flight delayed

Stunning statistics: Weather responsible for 70% of airport delays worldwide

POPULAR NEWS

Inferno at Toyota 1000 Desert Race consumes 49 cars

Inferno at Toyota 1000 Desert Race consumes 49 cars

July 3, 2023
Mobius Motors

Mobius Motors: Rising taxes, competition ends Kenyan SUV maker’s journey

August 7, 2024
Autojournal car race

Get ready for the biggest RACE show this December in Nigeria

August 12, 2024
From style to sustainability: How Geely Auto is shaping the future of luxury vehicles

From style to sustainability: How Geely Auto is shaping the future of luxury vehicles

October 25, 2024
Oyo State Governor gifts Saheed Osupa Toyota Prado SUV worth ₦70M 

Oyo State Governor gifts Saheed Osupa Toyota Prado SUV worth ₦70M 

August 22, 2023

EDITOR'S PICK

Lost luggage [CNN]

From NASA cameras to Rolex watches: What happens to lost luggage?

January 8, 2025
McLaren's Lando Norris wins his first Formula 1 race at Miami Grand Prix

Lando Norris secures first F1 victory at Miami Grand Prix

May 6, 2024
Jubril Arogundade emphasizes that purchasing locally manufactured Nigerian vehicles

Jubril Arogundade emphasizes that purchasing locally manufactured Nigerian vehicles

February 28, 2025
Bugatti Mistral Sets 282mph World Record for Open-Top Cars

Bugatti Mistral Sets 282mph World Record for Open-Top Cars

February 28, 2025

About

Auto Journal Africa is the leading online and print magazine for automobiles in Africa.

Follow us

Recent Posts

  • Tesla signs landmark deal for China’s largest grid-scale battery plant
  • Heesen launches Sparta, its biggest yacht at 220 feet long
  • Lucid vs. Rivian: The battle for America’s EV future heats up
  • Tesla pauses Cybertruck and Model Y production to boost efficiency

Links

  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Events
  • Tools
  • For Sale

© 2023 Auto Journal

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Tech
    • Lifestyle
    • Business
    • Opinion
    • Premium
  • Reviews
  • Events
    • Nigeria
    • South Africa
  • Tools
    • Price Guide
    • Find your idea car
    • Car valuation
    • Sell your car
    • Car insurance quote
    • Locate a dealer
    • Deals
  • For Sale
    • New Cars for sale
    • Cheap Cars for sale
    • Bikes for sale
    • Trucks for sale
    • Boats for sale
    • Jets for sale in Africa
    • Cars under 5m
    • EV in Nigeria
    • EV in South Africa

© 2023 Auto Journal

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In