2006 Archive
Dec.
01, 2006
Nov. 17, 2006
Oct. 27, 2006
SEP. 29, 2006
JUN. 23, 2006
JUN. 16, 2006
MAY. 5, 2006
MAR. 31, 2006
MAR. 3, 2006
JAN. 27, 2006
Significant Activity Report for the week Ending December 01, 2006
International Visitors from Brazil Visit Airport Technology R&D Branch:
On November 29, three representatives from Brazil’s aviation authority visited
the ATO-P R&D Airport Technology R&D Branch at the William J. Hughes Technical
Center to learn about the FAA’s Runway Friction R&D Program. Brazil’s tropical
climate, with regular heavy rainfall is conducive to higher risks of slippery
runway conditions due to the accumulation of rubber deposits from landing
aircraft’s tires. The Brazilian representatives where interested in current FAA
standards for measuring and maintaining runway surface skid resistance, and the
research efforts being conducted to support those standards. A tour of the FAA’s
runway friction lab gave the visitors an up close, hands-on experience with the
FAA’s current fleet of friction measuring devices. After their visit to the
Technical Center, the representatives traveled to visit the Port Authority of
New York/New Jersey at JFK International Airport to experience runway
maintenance practices in an operational environment. Brazil has several airports
that often require rubber removal from its runways, and uses runway friction
vehicles to determine when this process is needed. The Brazilian representatives
were very appreciative for visiting the FAA and plan on participating in future
runway surface workshops in the United States.
Ryan King, AJP-6310, 609-485-8816, 12/7/06
Significant Activity Report for the week Ending November 17, 2006
Airport Pavement Design and Evaluation Workshop: Airport Technology R&D
personnel will be conducting a 3-day extensive workshop on "Airport Pavement
Design and Evaluation" in New Delhi on February 12-13-14. The workshop is
cosponsored by the Airport Authority of India (AAI). They are expecting
government, industry, and academic participants at the workshop. This workshop
is strongly supported by the Office of Associate Administrator for
Airports---Safety and Standards. R&D presenters (3 FAA and 2 contractors) will
be joined by three researchers from the Boeing Company and two researchers from
Airbus, Toulouse. The ICAO has helped to arrange this workshop in New Delhi. The
AAI is expecting the U.S. team to familiarize them with many issues related to
pavement design and evaluation technology related to New Large Aircraft, such
as, Boeing B-777 and Airbus A-380. Similar workshops have already been conducted
in Beijing and Seoul, S. Korea.
David Brill, AJP-6310, (609) 485-5198
ARFF International Conference: ATO-P R&D Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF)
Research Program personnel attended the 17th Annual ARFF Working Group
International Conference. Over 350 people from the ARFF industry and several
nations attended the conference. The attendees were made up of firefighters,
product manufacturers, and various federal Government and military agencies.
Many of the presentations made at the conference were regarding recent aviation
accidents and incidents which involved post incident fires. This provided the
ability to learn how technologies studied by the ARFF Research Program have or
could have aided the airport fire departments in their emergency response and
fire extinguishment. Breakout sessions were also conducted with various
international airport regulators regarding technologies being tested and
revisions to international regulations on ARFF services. At the conference they
were presented an Outstanding Service Award from the organization for the
efforts of the program personnel and the Technical Center support for hosting an
ARFF Working Group Section 1 & 2 Regional Seminar in April 2006.
Jim Patterson, AJP-6310, 609) 485-4989
Significant Activity Report for the week Ending October 27, 2006
Accomplishments/Completed Activities
ATO-P R&D Airport Safety personnel began evaluation for the Lighting Systems
Office, of a Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) lighting system using
Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology to replace the incandescent lamps
currently used. The test will be comprised of laboratory tests and flight tests.
The goal is to determine if this new technology can be considered as a
replacement technology for the incandescent lamp, which could save energy and
maintenance costs.
Donald W. Gallagher, AJP-6310, (609) 485-4583, 10/25/2006
Significant Activity Report for the week ending September 29, 2006
Aircraft Rescue & Firefighting (ARFF) Technology. The members of the ARFF
Research Program of the Airport Safety Technology R&D Section conducted a series
of operational demonstrations of an ARFF trailer system. The system was being
demonstrated at the request of the Office of Airport Safety and Standards
(AAS-300). With the new FAR Part 139 requiring many smaller commercial airports
to now have fire protection; AAS requested the trailer system to be demonstrated
for its operational capabilities and compliance with the FAR. The trailer’s fire
suppression is capable of discharging water, foam, dry chemical and Halotron.
These capabilities were demonstrated by FAA personnel with several live fire
demonstrations. The trailer system also came with several non-fire extinguishing
components necessary for accident scenes such as an on board generator, scene
lighting, breathing air compressor, pneumatic and hydraulic rescue tools and
electrical cord reels. These were all demonstrated by the manufacturer.
Keith Bagot, ATO-P (R&D), (609) 485-6383, 9/27/06
Next Generation High-Reach Extendible Turret for Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting
Vehicles. On September 20, representatives from the FAA Aircraft Rescue & Fire
Fighting (ARFF) Research Program traveled to Crash Rescue Equipment Services,
Inc. in Dallas, Texas for the initial inspection and operation of a next
generation high-reach extendible turret (HRET) that is being installed on its
new six-wheeled ARFF research vehicle (Crash-5). The next generation HRET has
new features such as the ability to extend to 65 ft high, updated operational
controls, and a new controller package. The next generation HRET has an
additional 15 ft compared to the original that will allow the HRET operator to
use the HRET’s skin-penetrating nozzle to penetrate second level aircraft such
as the Boeing 747 and Airbus A380 for interior fire suppression. Upon the
complete installation of the next generation HRET, Crash-5 will be transported
back to truck manufacturer to undergo the prototype & production vehicle testing
as outlined in the FAA Advisory Circular 150/5220-10C – Guide Specifications for
ARFF Vehicles. The FAA ARFF research vehicle is the first ARFF vehicle to obtain
a next generation HRET where it will be used for extensive fire testing over the
next year.
Keith Bagot, ATO-P (R&D), (609) 485-6383, 9/27/06
Significant Activity Report for the week ending June 23, 2006
AIRPORT PAVEMENT ROUGHNESS EVALUATION. The Airport Technology R&D Branch
acquired a California type profilograph, also known as a rolling straight edge.
This device, manufactured by Surface Systems and Instruments, LLC, of Mill
Valley, California, is used for automatic recording of pavement profiles. The
device consists of a 25-foot long maneuverable truss that can easily be
disassembled and transported. A recording wheel rests on the pavement surface at
the center of the unit. Vertical movements of the wheel are recorded on an
on-board computer. The profilograph will be used for performing routine surveys
and pavement evaluations at the National Airport Pavement Test Facility, and for
developing practical airport pavement roughness evaluation procedures that can
be related to ride quality measurements.
Gordon F. Hayhoe , AJP-6310, (609) 485-8555, 6/21/06
Significant Activity Report for the week ending June 16, 2006
Taxiway Landing Research – West Palm Beach, Florida. On June 5-9, personnel from
the Airport Safety Technology Research and Development Section traveled to West
Palm Beach, Florida, to conduct research on reducing inadvertent taxiway
landings.
Jim Patterson, who has been serving as the Project Manager for the taxiway
landing research effort, coordinated the visit with the West Palm Beach Airport,
allowing the Section the opportunity to temporarily set up five different
treatments (ranging from lights to artificial grass material) that might be able
to be deployed at an airport experiencing a significant amount of inadvertent
taxiway landings. West Palm Beach was selected due to its unique geometry, and
willingness to participate in the research effort. To reduce shipping costs, the
testing material was transported to the West Palm Airport using a truck and very
large enclosed trailer. The results of this research will be used by the FAA’s
Office of Airport Safety and Standards as they develop new guidance material for
airports interested in finding potential solutions to reduce taxiway landings.
Jim Patterson, AJP-6311, (609) 485-4989, 6/15/06
Significant Activity Report for the week ending May 5, 2006
Fire Department Instructors Conference. Keith Bagot and Jim Patterson
from the Airport Technology R&D Branch, Airport Safety Section attended the Fire
Department Instructors Conference (FDIC). The attendees were made up of fire
fighters, product manufacturers, and various federal government agencies. The
conference draws over 10,000 attendees and over 500,000 sq. ft. of fire fighting
equipment and apparatus displays. Over the past four years the Aircraft Rescue &
Fire Fighting Working Group has increased it presence at this conference which
had been traditionally geared toward the municipal fire fighting field. This
conference now gives both fire fighting fields a chance to transfer technology
information from one specialty to another.
Keith Bagot, AJP-6311, (609) 485-4898, 5/3/06
WebPAVER Kickoff Meeting. Dr. Gordon Hayhoe and John-Paul Schilling of
the Airport Technology Research and Development Branch recently participated in
the annual user’s group meeting for MicroPAVER, a pavement management software,
in Boulder, Colorado April 25-27. Additionally, they held a kickoff meeting for
the development of a web-based version of MicroPAVER that would allow airfields
an efficient and effective way to manage and maintain their pavement condition.
The Airport Technology R&D Branch will be taking the lead in managing this
effort that has previously included participation from Department Of Defense
agencies such as United States Air Force, Army Corp of Engineers, and the Navy.
John-Paul M. Schilling, AJP-6310, (609) 485-4483, 5/3/06
Significant Activity Report for the Week Ending Mar 31, 2006
End Around Taxiway Screen Project.Personnel from the Airport Safety
Technology Research and Development Section (ATO-P R&D) hosted a demonstration
of their prototype End-Around Taxiway Screen design at the Atlantic City
International Airport on March 14. The screen, which is 224 feet long and 13
feet high, was positioned out on a closed taxiway while participants were given
an opportunity to view the screen from the opposite end of the airport,
approximately 10,000 feet away. The purpose of these screens is to mask an
aircraft operating on an end around taxiway from view of a flight crew operating
on the runway. Based on the results of this demonstration, the screens will now
be prepared for final evaluation during the week of April 17. Local television
stations, newspapers, and radio stations reported on the impressive screen
demonstration.
Jim Patterson, (609) 485-4989, ATO-P (R&D), 3/29/06
Significant Activity Report for the Week Ending Mar 3, 2006
MBA Graduation from Capella University
Holly Cyrus of the Airport Technology R&D Branch (ATO-P R&D) graduated with an
MBA from Capella University in a commencement ceremony in Anaheim, California on
February 18. She had a 4.0 grade point average and is an Ambassador for Capella
University. The event was held in the Heritage Forum and featured Wally Amos,
the founder of Famous Amos Cookies as the keynote speaker. More than 230
Bachelor's, Master's, and Ph.D. degree candidates took part in the ceremony.
Paul H. Jones, AJP-6311, (609) 485-6713, 3/10/06
Significant Activity Report for the Week Ending January 27, 2006
Ground Penetrating Radar. John-Paul Schilling of ATO-P R&D’s Airport Technology
Research and Development Branch participated in talks on Ground Penetrating
Radar (GPR) in Austin, Texas, on January 17-19. A subsidiary of Geophysical
Survey Systems, Inc., a leader in the development and manufacture of this
emerging technology, hosted the talks. The hopes for GPR are that it will assist
in future non-destructive pavement testing, specifically in the ability to
detect and classify subsurface failures in airfield pavements. Additionally,
while in Austin, Mr. Schilling met with Dr. Bugao Xu, of the University of Texas
at Austin. Dr. Xu has been working with the Texas DOT on an Automated Pavement
Distress Survey System. This system is a fully automated pavement distress
survey system running at real time for image acquisition, distress detection,
and data classification. This technology expects to one-day replace the manual
detection system currently in place.
John-Paul M. Schilling, (609) 485-4483, 1/26/06
TRB Annual Meeting. Dr. David Brill and John-Paul Schilling of the Airport
Technology Research and Development Branch attended the 85th Annual
Transportation Research Board (TRB) Meeting on January 23-24. The TRB Annual
Meeting consisted of over 2,600 presentations that were held in over 500
sessions. Worldwide attendees came from a wide variety of government, industry,
and academia. Over 1000 delegates from more than 67 countries outside the United
States participated. Dr. David Brill also presided over a session titled
“Application of Finite-Element Method for Design and Analysis of Highway and
Airport Pavements” of which two of the presentations consisted of work conducted
here at the Airport Technology R&D Branch.
John-Paul M. Schilling, (609) 485-4483, 1/26/06
Last Update:
04/25/08
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