FAA Airport Technology Research & Developement Branch News Page
News Page
 NAPTF
10th Anniversary Video
Weekly Status Reports
The Airport Technology R & D Branch provides a weekly report on
significant activities within the branch. These activities include, but are not
limited to, project testing dates, announcements of publications, travel
highlights, visiting dignitaries and groups, and all other activities deemed
significant. Significant activity reports may be viewed by
"scrolling down" or clicking on the following shortcuts to jump to the
report for that
date.
Significant Activities for the week ending February 07, 2013
Aircraft Noise and Annoyance Survey:
During the bi-weekly telecon on January 31, 2013, stratification
possibilities continued to be discussed. On February 4th, AEE submitted comments
from the expert panel reviewers on the draft survey instrument. On February 5th,
AEE and APP concurred on five criteria for stratification. An additional telecon
is scheduled on February 7th to finalize the stratification and discuss the
draft survey instrument comments.
FOD Database:
Airport Operations personnel from San Antonio International Airport, TX
continue to submit FOD reports into the database. To date, there are 37 reports
in the database; no additional reports were added since January 24th.
Airport Safety Database:
Data analysts continue to categorize the 4000 additional event records
for future analysis. A telecon is scheduled on February 7th to discuss
additional updates.
Visual Guidance:
Improved Signage, Marking and Lighting of EMAS Beds: On February 4th,
additional field evaluations were conducted at ACY airport using red
retroreflective markers around the sides and rear, and yellow retroreflective
markers along the front. After reviewing the evaluations, the spacing of the
retroreflective markers is recommended to be 7.5 feet, for both the red and
yellow markers. Lauren Vitagliano and Jennifer Klass, SRA Airport Operations
Analyst, continue to work with the AFTIL to prepare for pilot evaluations
scheduled for February 19-22. They are also working with Baton Rouge Airport, LA
to install the configuration for vehicle driver evaluations. Installation is
tentatively scheduled for February 26-28.
Airport Technology Research Taxiway:
The responses to the US Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) design review
comments were provided to the USACE on February 2 and are currently under final
review.
FAA Wildlife Website/Database:
Website/Strike Reporting: continues with the online DB and website
operating normally. There were a total 530 raw strike reports submitted to date
in January. There have been 103 raw strike reports submitted to date in
February.
Online DB: The FAA’s wildlife strike database now includes all
validated strike reports through December 30, 2012. There were a total of 10,650
strikes reported in 2012 which is 529 more than 2011. The count of validated
strike reports in the DB from January 1990 to present (including 13,168 military
BASH reports) is now 144,222. The MS ACCESS “wildlife.zip” version 2012.12-P is
available for download at http://wildlife-mitigation.tc.faa.gov/wildlife/downloads/wildlife.zip.
Report Posted:
A recently published report titled DOT/FAA/TC-TN12/48 “Aircraft Skin-Pentrating
Nozzle (ASPN) Testing of a Freighter Aircraft Cargo Liner” was uploaded to the
Airport Technology R&D Branch web site. This report describes the research that
was conducted to evaluate the role of a cargo liner in penetration of an
aircraft with an ASPN. The report can be found at www.airporttech.tc.faa.gov.
Report Posted:
A recently published report titled DOT/FAA/TC-TN12-43 “Crash Simulation of
Transport Aircraft for Predicting Fuel Release” was uploaded to the Airport
Technology R&D Branch web site. This report describes the research that was
conducted to validate a computer simulation of a full-scale crash test involving
a Lockheed Constellation Model L-1649. The report can be found at
www.airporttech.tc.faa.gov.
Report Published:
A recently published report titled DOT/FAA/TC-TN12-45
“Nonincandescent Source Aviation Signal Light Colors” was uploaded to the
Airport Technology R&D Branch web site. This report describes the research that
was conducted to provide chromaticity regions for aviation signal lights that
maximize the likelihood of correct identification while minimizing the potential
for confusion with other colors. The report can be found at
www.airporttech.tc.faa.gov.
Report Published:
A recently published report titled DOT/FAA/TC-TN12-46
“Ground Vehicle Runway Incursion Prevention Alerting System Literature Review”
was uploaded to the Airport Technology R&D Branch web site. This report
describes a literature review that was conducted of technology and technological
solutions that could be used to prevent runway incursions and surface accidents
involving vehicles with authorized access to the aircraft movement area. The
report can be found at www.airporttech.tc.faa.gov.
VASI Baffling:
On January 29-31, Nick Subbotin traveled to the Huntingburg
Regional Airport (HNB) in Huntingburg, IN to perform a PAPI system baffling
task. On the approach to runway 9, FAA Flight Check identified radio towers and
trees obstructing the PAPI system light signal. The system was shut down due to
concern that the pilot would not receive a proper signal from the PAPI system
during final approach. The baffling task involves the installation of metal
shields inside each light housing assembly that restrict the visible signal from
the PAPI system until an aircraft is clear of the obstacle. FAA flight check
will perform another flight check in the future to determine if the baffled PAPI
system is safe for pilots to use.
Low Cost Surface Surveillance:
The project plan defining the scope of work,
phased project approach and project timeline for the system installation at
Raleigh Durham International Airport is due February 15.
Frangibility:
A meeting has been scheduled for the week of March 11th at
Tyndall Air Force Base to initiate Frangibility Research under the new
Interagency Agreement between the FAA and the Air Force. The meeting
participants will include Joe Breen of the Airport Safety R&D Section,
representatives from the Air Force Civil Engineering Center (AFCEC) and the Air
Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), and contract experts in the field of dynamic
finite element modeling. Initial research work will include evaluation of
frangible connections/structures located in airport runway and taxiway safety
areas utilizing dynamic finite element modeling and development of
machinery/equipment for conducting dynamic (crash) testing.
Construction Cycle 5 (CC5) Post Traffic Testing:
Post traffic forensic
trenching work continued this week with measurements being taken at the top of
the subgrade surface. California Bearing Ratios (CBRs), sand cones, dynamic cone
penetrometer (DCP), portable seismic property analyzer (D-PSPA) and light weight
deflectometer (LWD) tests were performed in the four trenches. Additionally,
Shelby Tube samples will be taken for resilient modulus and unconfined
compressive tests at the FAA's material testing lab.
NextGen Pavement Materials Lab:
The laboratory manager and senior technician
worked on an inventory of laboratory equipment for the upcoming AMRL laboratory
inspection. The asphalt technician assisted with post traffic testing of CC5.
Laboratory staff attended a webinar on Alkali-Aggregate Reaction.
FAA PAVEAIR:
Since its release, FAA PAVEAIR version 2.0 has approximately
980,457 hits to the English website. The software has recently been evaluated by
the FAA for IT security vulnerability and the recommended changes are in
process.
Nondestructive Airport Pavement Testing:
Material testing of the asphalt high
tire pressure pavement area grooving project continues. The testing is needed to
determine why the unheated grooved area deteriorated under loading faster than
the heated grooved area.
Reflective Cracking Test Rig:
Cyclic testing of the 5 inch asphalt overlay
continued this week with a total of approximately 1470 cycles completed to date.
The first crack was detected in the HMA pavement at 750 cycles. Since then, 2
major cracks and 8 minor pavement cracks have been observed. Instrumentation
data continues to be collected to assist in mathematical modeling of HMA overlay
crack propagation.
High Temperature Pavement Test Vehicle:
All material for mounting the heating
elements to the beam has been ordered and was delivered to Dynatest
Field Instrumentation & Testing:
The problem with the camera at EWR pavement
instrumentation project has been identified (bad network card) and solution is
being worked on.
Gyratory Compactor Project & High Tire Pressure Tests Material
Characterization:
The laboratory staff performed asphalt binder ignition tests
to determine binder content on four core samples taken from the high tire
pressure sections of CC5. The extracted aggregates were washed to determine the
percent fines. Gradations for particle size analysis will be run next week.
Significant Activities for the week ending January 31, 2013
Aircraft Noise and Annoyance Survey:
The methodology for grouping and randomly selecting the 20 airports for
survey continues to be discussed. On 1/29/13 the subcontractor provided the team
with a memo containing a method for rating each airport by relative impact based
on the population in each DNL range. This memo and possible stratification
considerations will be discussed at the next telecom scheduled for the afternoon
of January 31st.
FOD Database:
Airport Operations personnel from San Antonio International Airport, TX
continue to submit FOD reports into the database. To date, there are 37 reports
in the database; no additional reports were added since January 24th.
Airport Safety Database:
Data analysts continue to categorize the 4000 additional event records
for future analysis.
Aircraft Braking Friction:
The modifications to the nose gear brake control system have been
installed on the Braking Research Aircraft in preparation for Mu-Slip Testing to
be conducted this winter on contaminated surface conditions. The modified nose
gear brake control system replaces the existing metering valve and de-boost
valve on the aircraft with an electronic pressure control valve to allow for
more precise brake control. The project team will be conducting test runs with
the aircraft over the next several days to verify the satisfactory operation of
the modified nose gear brake control system and all aircraft instrumentation.
FAA Wildlife Website/Database:
Website/Strike Reporting: continues with the online DB and website
operating normally. There have been 511 raw strike reports submitted to date in
January.
Online DB: The FAA’s wildlife strike database now includes all
validated strike reports through October 31, 2012. The count of validated strike
reports in the DB from January 1990 to present (including 12,762 military BASH
reports) is now 143,635. The MS ACCESS “wildlife.zip” version 2012.10-P is
available for download at http://wildlife-mitigation.tc.faa.gov/wildlife/downloads/wildlife.zip.
The batch upload of November strike data is anticipated to be accomplished by
end of February.
Report Publication: Interim Report DOT/FAA/TC-13/3 “Research on
Bird-Detecting Radar” was published on January 31, 2013. The report provides an
interim update of the FAA’s research program on radars designed to detect and
track birds at and near airports.
Airport Technology Research Taxiway:
On January 30, a status meeting was held with representatives from SRA
International to deliberate design review comments provided by the US Army Corp
of Engineers (USACE). The agreed upon responses will be provided to the USACE by
the end of the week.
Safety Orange-Colored Airport Construction Signs:
The project plan defining the scope of work, phased project approach and
project timeline was submitted to the FAA Office of Airport Safety and Standards
on January 28. The project is focused on analyzing and developing the concept of
using safety-orange colored visual aids to mitigate the hazards due the
construction activities at airports.
Visual Guidance:
MALSR LED PAR38 Replacement Lamp: Personnel supported the Lighting Systems Sub
team, AJM-3222, and Flight Standards Service, Flight Technology and Procedures
Division, AFS-410, in conducting flight tests of LED replacement lamps for the
incandescent PAR38 lamps used in a standard CAT I Medium Approach Lighting
System with Runway Alignment Lights (MALSR) on January 29-30, 2013.
Construction Cycle 5 (CC5) Post Traffic Testing:
Post traffic forensic trenching work continued this week on the P-154
subbase layer of the CC5 test pavement. Nuclear gauge density, sand cones,
portable seismic property analyzer (D-PSPA) and light weight deflectometer (LWD)
tests were performed in the four trenches. Additionally, P-154 samples were
collected for resilient modulus and strength tests to be completed at the NAPTF
materials lab.
NextGen Pavement Materials Lab:
The senior materials technician and lab manager are working on
documentation of equipment and training to meet laboratory accreditation
requirements. An AASHTO Materials Reference Laboratory (AMRL) visit for
inspection is scheduled for March 12th and for Cement and Concrete Reference
Laboratory (CCRL) is scheduled for March 25th.
FAA PAVEAIR:
Since its release, FAA PAVEAIR version 2.0 has approximately 974,316
hits to the English website. The project to evaluate the feasibility of adding
airport traffic data to FAA PAVEAIR will begin in February.
Nondestructive Airport Pavement Testing:
SRA has completed a draft American Society of Testing and Materials
(ASTM) standard for Simulating Profilograph Response to Longitudinal Profiles of
Traveled Surfaces.
Reflective Cracking Test Rig:
Cyclic testing of the 5 inch asphalt overlay continued this week with a
total of approximately 700 cycles completed to date. No visible cracking of the
overlay has been observed. The temperature controlled test rig is being slowly
moved 12 mils open and then closed to simulate the naturally occurring expansion
and contraction cycles resulting from environmental temperature changes. Changes
in the HMA overlay are being recorded by imbedded and surface instruments.
High Temperature Pavement Test Vehicle:
Manufacturing and assembly is on schedule. Beam bearing rails, the
carriage tilt arms, and the ball screw bearing blocks for the beam side-shifts
were delivered to Dynatest.
Field Instrumentation & Testing:
Data acquisition system is working fine at EWR airport. There are some issues with the camera that are
being worked on.
Pavement Section hosted visitors from the University of Hawaii this week. Dr.
Amarjit Singh and a Ph.D. student, Alison Leake, visited The National Airport
Pavement Test Facility to learn about instrumenting airport pavements. The
University of Hawaii has a project with Hawaii Department of Transportation to
design and monitor pavement sensors to be installed at Kahului Airport on the
island of Maui.
Significant Activities for the week ending January 24, 2013
Aircraft Noise and Annoyance Survey:
During the January 17th telecom, discussion continued on the airport
selection criteria. It was proposed to include all airports with at least 100
jet operations. This would increase the number of approved airports from 66 to
111 airports to choose from. It was also proposed to eliminate those airports
with less than 100 people living in the DNL 60 dB and DNL 65 dB contours, which
would bring the total number of airports down to 95. The methodology for
grouping and randomly selecting the 20 airports for survey continues to be
discussed as well. The next telecom is scheduled for January 31st.
FOD Database:
Airport Operations personnel from San Antonio International Airport, TX continue
to submit FOD reports into the database. To date, there are 37 reports in the
database; 5 additional reports were added since January 17th.
Airport Safety Database:
Analysts retrieved approximately 4000 additional events for the
2001-2011 period from the additional airports added to the dataset. The analysts
have also begun organizing the databases for SME reviewers to begin categorizing
the additional events.
Taxiway Centerline Deviation Study:
On January 22nd, 889 processed data measurements from ADG-III and ADG-II
airports were forwarded to Boeing for statistical analysis. Data continues to be
collected from HPN and VNC airports.
Visual Guidance:
Improved Signage, Marking and Lighting of EMAS Beds: After reviewing the
evaluations from the field tests and looking at the AFTIL simulations, it is
recommended the red retroreflective markers be spaced 7.5’ apart along the rear
and sides of EMAS beds. Pilots of all experience levels will be evaluating the
markers at the AFTIL February 19-21, 2013.
FAA Wildlife Website/Database:
Website/Strike Reporting: continues with the online DB and website
operating normally. There have been 388 raw strike reports submitted to date in
January.
Online DB: The FAA’s wildlife strike database has been updated for
October reports. The online DB now includes all validated strike reports through
October 31, 2012. The count of validated strike reports in the DB from January
1990 to present (including 12,762 military BASH reports) is now 143,376. The MS
ACCESS “wildlife.zip” version 2012.10-P will be available for download at
http://wildlife-mitigation.tc.faa.gov/wildlife/downloads/wildlife.zip. The total
of validated strikes for 2102 so far is 9,633 which is 598 more than the total
for the same timeframe in 2011. The batch upload of November 2012 strike data is
anticipated to be accomplished by end of February 2013.
Tour/Presentation:
On January 14, Satish Agrawal and Ryan King presented an overview of the
Airport Technology R&D Branch to visitors from the Office of International
Affairs. The visitors were: CJ Collins, Senior Representative South Asia from
the US Embassy in New Delhi, India and Angela Harris, Foreign Affairs
Specialist, Asia Pacific Division in Washington DC. Mss. Collins and Harris were
accompanied by international representatives from Japan's Ministry of Land,
Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), Civil Aviation Bureau JAPAN (JCAB),
and Electronic Navigation Research Institute (ENRI). The presentation provided
details of the research program activities being conducted within the Airport
Pavement and Airport Safety R&D Sections and a tour of the FAA National Airport
Pavement Test Machine was given.
Aircraft Braking Friction:
Ryan Rutter and Joe Breen, along with James Zargan of SRA International,
recently met with representatives from Zodiac Aerospace to review proposed joint
research work to be conducted using the Braking Research Aircraft. The FAA and
Zodiac Aerospace are currently finalizing a Cooperative Research and Development
Agreement (CRDA) for conducting joint aircraft braking friction research under
contaminated runway conditions. During the meeting, the FAA and Zodiac Aerospace
discussed the selection and method of installation of pressure transducers into
the aircraft main gear hydraulic systems on both sides of the Anti-Skid Brake
System control valves. Zodiac Aerospace has an approved patent relating to the
estimation of aircraft braking friction on contaminated runways based on the
measurement of hydraulic system pressure differential across the Anti-Skid Brake
System control valves during landings.
Airport Technology Research Taxiway:
On January 17, a status meeting was held with representatives from the
US Army Corps of Engineers and SRA International to deliberate next steps and
the schedule going forward. The main takeaway is that the construction contract
bid will open on March 5 with the bid award on April 5.
Construction Cycle 5 (CC5) Post Traffic Testing:
Post traffic forensic trenching work continued this week on the P-209 stone base
layer of the CC5 test pavement. Nuclear gauge density, portable seismic property
analyzer (D-PSPA) and light weight deflectometer (LWD) tests were performed in
the four trenches. Additionally, P-209 samples were collected for resilient
modulus and strength tests to be completed at the NAPTF lab.
NextGen Pavement Materials Lab:
The asphalt technician performed bulk specific gravities and measured
core thickness on twenty-four (24) asphalt cores that had been taken from CC5
test sections. The laboratory also assisted in performing field density DCP,
DPSPA and LWD tests on the P209 aggregate base layer in CC5 post-traffic
trenches. The senior materials technician and lab manager are working on
documentation of equipment and training to meet laboratory accreditation
requirements.
FAA PAVEAIR:
Since its release, FAA PAVEAIR version 2.0 has approximately 966,803
hits to the English website. The FAA support contractor has developed a
programming standards document to assist software developers in the standardized
design of software programs.
Reflective Cracking Test Rig:
Cyclic testing of the asphalt overlay began this week. The temperature
controlled test rig will be slowly moved 12 mils open and then closed to
simulate the expansion and contraction cycles resulting from environmental
temperature changes. Changes in the HMA overlay will be recorded by imbedded and
surface instruments.
High Temperature Pavement Test Vehicle:
Manufacturing and assembly is on schedule. The performance testing of
the hydraulic powered dollies took place on December 17th and 18th at Dynatest’s
subcontractor facility. The units passed inspection and were shipped to Dynatest
facility in Jacksonville, FL, where they have been installed onto the HVS main
structure. The testing of dollies was filmed and the video has been posted on
YouTube. The link is here.
Field Instrumentation & Testing:
Installation of data acquisition system at Newark Liberty International
Airport pavement instrumentation project was completed last week. FAA and
Support personnel are visiting both Newark and JFK today to adjust data
collection systems.
Gyratory Compactor Project & High Tire Pressure Tests Material
Characterization:
Lab tests have been completed and data analysis is underway.
Significant Activities for the week ending January 18, 2013
Airport Technology R&D:
On January 17, 2013 Satish Agrawal and Jim Patterson traveled to FAA
headquarters to provide an overview briefing to ARP-2 on the status of the
Airport Technology R&D Program.
Electrical Infrastructure Research Project:
On January 16-17, the Electrical Infrastructure Test Team met to
deliberate the efficacy of six identified airfield lighting electrical
architectures being considered as alternatives to the legacy 6.6 amp series
circuit. The Electrical Infrastructure Research project is focused on
identifying a simplified, efficient, and standardized airfield lighting system
that can support the operation of new light source technologies, including Light
Emitting Diodes (LEDs).
Safety Orange-Colored Airport Construction Signs:
A kickoff meeting was held on January 16 with representatives from the
FAA Airport Construction Advisory Council (ACAC) and the FAA Office of Airport
Safety and Standards to define the scope of work, phased project approach and
project timeline. The project is focused on analyzing and developing the concept
of using safety-orange colored visual aids to mitigate the hazards due the
construction activities at airports.
Taxiway Centerline Deviation:
Lauren Vitagliano, Nick Subbotin, and Steve Murphy travelled to Orlando,
West Palm Beach, and Key West, Florida to close out the taxiway centerline
deviation projects at these airports. Debriefs with Airport Management were held
at each location, and the trip also included full removal of the data collection
system at Key West International. Data collected from each of these airports is
being analyzed, and will be published in a Technical Note due to be published in
the fall of 2013.
Airport Technology Research Taxiway:
Robert Bassey contacted the FAA Harrisburg ADO to check on the status of
the modification to standards (MOS) that was submitted to request approval for
construction of the Research Taxiway. According to the ADO, the MOS has three
steps remaining in its approval process. No projected date for completion of the
approval process was provided.
Aircraft Noise and Annoyance Survey:
During the Janary10th telecon, discussions on the airport selection process
continued. ARP and AEE worked to update the list of airports to indicate which
airports have had recent Part 150 Studies and noise monitoring equipment and the
FAA region where the airport is located. The draft survey instrument was
forwarded to the group with comments due back to AEE by January 20th. Continued
topics for discussion include airport selection methodology and the possibility
of adding the top 20 General Aviation airports to the approved airport list.
Aircraft Braking Friction:
Ryan Rutter of Airport Technology R&D and James Zargan of SRA
International have completed development of modifications to the nose gear brake
control system for installation on the Braking Research Aircraft. The
modifications were developed and bench tested utilizing the ASBS Simulation Lab.
The modified nose gear brake control system will replace the existing metering
valve and de-boost valve on the aircraft with an electronic pressure control
valve to allow for more precise brake control. FOD Database: Airport Operations
personnel from San Antonio International Airport, TX continue to submit FOD
reports into the database. To date, there are now more than 40 reports in the
database..
FAA Wildlife Website/Database:
Website/Strike Reporting: continues with the online DB and website
operating normally. There have been 313 raw strike reports submitted to date in
January.
Online DB: The FAA’s wildlife strike database now includes all
validated strike reports through September 30, 2012. The count of validated
strike reports in the DB from January 1990 to present (including 12,762 military
BASH reports) is now 142,081. The MS ACCESS “wildlife.zip” version 2012.9-P is
available for download at http://wildlife-mitigation.tc.faa.gov/wildlife/downloads/wildlife.zip.
The batch upload of October strike data is anticipated to be accomplished by end
of January.
Construction Cycle 5 (CC5) Post Traffic Testing:
Post traffic forensic trenching began this week with saw cutting and
removal of the 5-inches of P-401 hot mix asphalt to expose the P-209 stone base
layer. A total of four trenches will be cut. Planned tests include nuclear gauge
density, dynamic cone penetrometer (DCP), portable seismic property analyzer (D-PSPA)
& light weight deflectometer (LWD).
NextGen Pavement Materials Lab:
Bulk specific gravity testing is ongoing for CC5 and High Tire Pressure
cores. Lab personnel continue preparations for AMRL and CCRL accreditations.
Concrete and aggregate lab equipment is being verified and quality manual
documents are being created as part of the preparations.
FAA PAVEAIR:
Since its release, FAA PAVEAIR version 2.0 has approximately 961,463
hits to the English website. The FAA support contractor has developed a
programming standards document to assist software developers in the standardized
design of software programs.
Nondestructive Pavement Testing:
The FAA has solicited and received comments on the Falling/Heavy Weight
Deflectometer (F/HWD) roundup spreadsheet that provided the deflections and time
history from F/HWD equipment. The next step is to incorporate the comments and
include the data in the F/HWD roundup website.
High Temperature Pavement Test Vehicle:
Manufacturing and assembly is on schedule. The gear box and demo motor
controller unit for the carriage drive system was received by Dynatest. The
software engineer has begun creating the programming logic for the control/Modbus
communications.
Gyratory Compactor Project & High Tire Pressure Tests Material
Characterization:
Draft report titled “Performance Tests for Airport HMA
Designed Using the Superpave Gyratory Compactor” was delivered to FAA by ERDC.
Significant Activities for the week ending January 10,
2013
Data Mining-Airport Safety Database:
On December 20, 2012 Jim Patterson and Lauren Vitagliano briefed ARP-2 on the
status of the project. The database continues to be expanded to include
additional airports. The data analysis will be more specific to airport safety
factors to include wildlife strikes, problematic geometry, etc. The analysis
will identify the top airport risk areas.
Aircraft Noise and Annoyance Survey:
During the December 13th telecom, the airport selection process was
discussed. ARP and AEE worked to update the list of airports to indicate which
airports have had recent Part 150 Studies and noise monitoring equipment and the
FAA region where the airport is located. The new target for the test plan is the
end of January, contingent on finalizing the airport selection methodology. An
expert panel was chosen to review the draft survey instrument. The draft survey
instrument was forwarded to the panel and comments are due back to AEE by
January 20th. The next telecom is scheduled for January 10, 2013. Topics for
discussion include airport selection methodology and the possibility of adding
the top 20 General Aviation airports to the approved airport list. Internally
Lighted Wind Cone Research: The final technical report was submitted on January
4 and is currently under review. The report details recommended changes to
existing wind cone standards.
Airport Technology Research Taxiway:
Per request, the pre-award submittal requirements were provided to the US
Army Corps of Engineers to facilitate the construction contract award.
Aircraft Braking Friction:
Construction work is progressing with the storage building being erected
adjacent to the FAA Ramp. The concrete foundation, metal building structure, and
electrical utility/equipment installation have all been completed. The storage
building will be completed when the hydraulically operated overhead door is
delivered and installed in early February. The storage building, which has a 30’
x 40’ footprint, will be used to house all of the ground support equipment for
the Braking Research Aircraft (Boeing 727-25C).
FOD Database:
Airport Operations personnel from San Antonio International Airport, TX
continue to submit FOD reports into the database. To date, there are 32 reports
in the database; 1 additional report was added since.
Visual Guidance:
Improved Signage, Marking and Lighting of EMAS Beds: On January 3rd,
field evaluations were conducted at ACY airport using red retroreflective
markers. After reviewing the evaluations, 5’ and 15’ spacing between the markers
were eliminated. It was recommended to look into using a split reflector with
yellow on the runway side, and black or red on the EMAS side. After several
discussions, it was determined not to use a split reflector, which may create
pilot confusion as to the location of the threshold. On January 9-10, 2013
Lauren Vitagliano and Jennifer Klass worked with the AFTIL to simulate several
retroreflector colors and spacing configurations around an EMAS bed.
Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting:
Keith Bagot travelled to Boston as part of an investigation of Monday’s fire
aboard a Japan Airlines Boeing 787 at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
in Boston, MA. Rescue and fire personnel and equipment responded to the airplane
and detected a fire in the electronics and equipment bay near the auxiliary
power unit (APU) battery box. An APU battery had severe fire damage. This
incident had particular interest to the ARFF Research Program due to the fact
that the batteries were Li-Ion type and the B787 is the first aircraft to use
these types of batteries. Critical data that was collected included the extent
of fire damage, the effectiveness of firefighting techniques that were used, and
an assessment of tool and firefighting agent performance that was deployed.
FAA Wildlife Website/Database:
Website/Strike Reporting: continues with the online DB and website
operating normally. The December 2012 total for reported raw strikes data was
516. There have been 195 raw strike reports submitted to date in January.
Online DB: The FAA’s wildlife strike database now includes all
validated strike reports through September 30, 2012. The count of validated
strike reports in the DB from January 1990 to present (including 12,762 military
BASH reports) is now 142,081. The MS ACCESS “wildlife.zip” version 2012.9-P is
available for download at http://wildlife-mitigation.tc.faa.gov/wildlife/downloads/wildlife.zip.
The batch upload of October strike data is anticipated to be accomplished by end
of January.
Report Publication:
DOT/FAA/TC-TN12/60, “Avian Radar Maintenance: Magnetron Life Assessment”
December 2012. This technical note provides a summary of CEAT’s maintenance
experience with off-the-shelf X-band marine radars used in avian radar systems
deployed at several airports. The findings support the conclusion that
operational life expectancy of magnetrons in avian radar applications often
greatly exceeds manufacturer-recommended replacement intervals, which are based
on typical marine use.
CC5 Post Traffic Testing:
A post traffic trenching plan was developed for the CC5 HMA test
pavement with work to begin next week. The plan includes four transverse
trenches to investigate and characterize the pavement materials in areas that
showed maximum depressions and upheavals during test vehicle trafficking.
CC7 Test Plan:
A meeting was held to begin the planning for CC7 HMA construction cycle.
Various test plan objectives were discussed and narrowed down to overload
testing and perpetual pavement testing. The next step is to develop a
construction and testing plan to meet the agreed upon objectives.
NextGen Pavement Materials Lab:
The laboratory concrete technician performed thirty-six (36) split
tensile strength tests on field cured concrete cylinders made with concrete
poured during the construction of CC6 sections. The laboratory also performed
four (4) Hot Mix Ignition tests to determine binder content on proficiency
samples received from AMRL. The results from CCRL concrete proficiency tests
were received. The scores for concrete proficiency tests were satisfactory.
FAA PAVEAIR:
Since its release, FAA PAVEAIR version 2.0 has approximately 928,004
hits to the English website. Additional databases continue to be acquired from
airports and airport authorities for development of the PAVEAIR airport pavement
family deterioration curves module. The FAA support contractor has developed a
programming standards document to assist software developers in the design of
software programs.
Nondestructive Pavement Testing:
The FAA pavement backcalculation program, BAKFAA, continues to be
developed in beta format. Future improvements include an enhanced Help file and
a User’s Group meeting.
Reflective Cracking Test Rig:
Cyclic testing of the asphalt overlay will begin the week of Jan 21.
High Temperature Pavement Test Vehicle:
Manufacturing and assembly is on schedule. Mounting system for the
heaters has been designed and a prototype was built and tested for a single
heater.
Field Instrumentation & Testing:
Installation of data acquisition system at Newark Liberty International
Airport pavement instrumentation project is scheduled for January 2013. Final
dates will be decided in consultation with PANYNJ staff.
Gyratory Compactor Project & High Tire Pressure Tests Material
Characterization:
APA tests were completed on twelve HMA samples (prepared by Soiltek in their
gyratory compactor). This completed the Asphalt Pavement Analyzer rut testing
for the High Tire Pressure Research. The data from these tests is currently
being analyzed.
Publication:
Paper titled “Asphalt Pavement Analyzer Used to Assess Rutting
Susceptibility of Hot-Mix Asphalt Designed for High Tire Pressure Aircraft” by
John F. Rushing, Dallas N. Little, and Navneet Garg (FAA) was
published in Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation
Research Board, No. 2296, Transportation Research Board of the National
Academies, Washington, D.C.
FAA R&D ANNUAL REVIEWEW
2006 R&D Annual Review
2005 R&D Annual Review
2004 R&D Annual Review
2003 R&D Annual Review
2002 R&D Annual Review
FAA's R&D Review Newsletter
2007, Issue 2
2006, Issue 4
2006, Issue 3
2006, Issue 2
2006, Issue 1
Spring 2005
Winter 2004-2005
Fall 2004
Spring 2004
Fall 2003
Summer 2003
Spring 2003
Fall 2002
Summer 2002
Spring 2002
Winter 2002
Last Update:
02/11/13
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