Subcommittee on Airports |MINUTES

Meeting date | time 3/19/2013 9:00 AM | Meeting location FAA Technical Center

– Atlantic City Int’l Airport, NJ

Purpose Airports REDAC Subcommittee 

Spring Briefing

Facilitator James White, FAA-DFO

Note taker Satish Agrawal

Timekeeper Satish Agrawal

Opening Remarks and introductions by Chris Oswald, Subcommittee Chair. New members have 

been added; Ms. Barbara Busiek, Director of Construction and Grants Administration, Northwest 

Arkansas Regional Airport, Dr. Matthew Ganz, Vice President-BR&T The Boeing Company, 

Mr. Alfred Pollard, Airport Director Martin State Airport, Maryland Aviation Administration, 

Ms. Stephanie L. Saracco, Chief Operating Officer, Pittsburgh International Airport. 

James White provided an update on sequestration, its impact on the FAA and how AIP is exempt 

(under current law). He also indicated that it is likely that FAA will be operating under a full 

year continuing resolution in FY 2013 that would keep Airport Technology Research funded at 

the FY 2012 level. It is also likely that the FY 2014 and FY 2015 budgets will not propose any 

increase in Airport Technology Research.

Richard Marchi recommended the subcommittee invite a member from ACRP to future 

meetings.

John Wiley provided introductory remarks, and more discussion on sequestration and long term 

effects. He briefed on REDAC goals, changes, and importance of identifying actionable findings 

and recommendations. He reminded subcommittee that although the Airport Technology 

Research program is not subject to sequestration, the other organizations at the Technical Center 

will be, and they will be having a number of days of furloughs for remainder of FY 2013.

Cathy Bigelow gave a presentation on REDAC roles and responsibilities. 

Satish Agrawal welcomed the group, gave an overview on the FY 2013 budget and discussed the 

10-year Airport Technology Research Plan. Satish also provided an overview of the Heavy 

Vehicle Simulator (HVS) facility and the project for extending pavement life to 40-years. He 

said the heated pavements and aircraft braking projects will be highlighted later in the meeting. 

He provided a quick overview of the purpose of the braking project and the difference between 

the Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) effort. He discussed the SRA contract ending this 

calendar year and that they are currently doing the acquisition process for a new contract.

Gloria Dunderman informed the Subcommittee that she has a REDAC database of 

recommendations. Each subcommittee should have Spring 2012 recommendations.

Jim Patterson went through each recommendation and its status (see details on Page 4). Jim then 

discussed the new Runway Simulator model that has been developed by Mitre. The Office of 
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Airports is considering have the Technical Center take over this model with the intent of 

maintaining it and making it available for public use. 

Presentation Heated Pavements | Presenter Don Barbagallo

Discussion – Questions and discussion included areas on an airport where the use of heated 

pavements might be practicable (i.e., high-speed taxiways), surveying airports on snow removal 

costs, benefits to airlines, maintenance costs, advanced materials such as “nano”, and target 

costs.

Conclusion - Proceed with Binghamton evaluation, but do not test new materials.

Presentation Aircraft Braking Study | Presenter Joe Breen

Discussion - Questions and discussion included coordination with Team Eagle’s R&D, the 

modifications made to the test aircraft antiskid system. A discussion took place on idea of 

forming a peer review panel to evaluate the project accomplishments and potential for success. 

This idea was deferred until the next Subcommittee meeting when additional data will be 

available.

Conclusion – Would like see the results of the wet/dry testing and get another update in August.

Action items Person responsible Deadline

Project update Joe Breen August REDAC

Presentation Visual Guidance | Presenter Don Gallagher

Discussion – There was discussion on LED lights and coordination with the manufacturers about 

installing a counter-type device inside. It was requested that airport operators be considered when 

designing the devices, and provide them with any technical assistance. 

Presentation Surface Operations | Presenter Nick Subbotin

Discussion – A brief discussion on TALPA implementation was given as well as damage to 

EMAS beds from Hurricane Sandy. 

Presentation Airport Surface Surveillance | Presenter Kent Duffy

Discussion - Reviewed the status of the ADS-B squitter project at BOS and discussed the 

potential operational benefits to airports.
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Presentation EMAS Marking, APCH Hold/RSA Marking, Safety Database, 

Problematic Geometry, Aircraft Noise and Annoyance | Presenter Lauren 

Vitagliano

Discussion – For the Airport Safety Database, there was discussion on the Top 5 areas and RPZ 

incidents. James White offered a clarifying synopsis for the Problematic Taxiway Geometry 

project. For the Aircraft Noise and Annoyance project, clarification was provided that the Tech 

Center is coordinating with the ACRP noise project as well as the Office of Environment and 

Energy (AEE). 

Conclusion – For the APCH/RSA Signage and Marking project, it was suggest we get vehicle 

driver feedback for new signage.

______________________________________________________________________________

Subcommittee Discussion of Open Recommendations (Discuss status of FAA response and 

decide to close or remain open)

Review of Spring 2012 Recommendations:

1. Spring 2012-1 – Accepted as positive comment. Status: CLOSED.

2. Spring 2012-2 FOD – Work continues at limited demonstration through deployment. 

Status: CLOSED.

James White shared that three airports have been selected for the limited demonstration 

deployments namely BOS, MSP, and MIA. Both BOS and MIA will do fixed installation 

systems on one runway. MSP will use a mobile system. Ryan King is the Tech Center 

POC. There was additional discussion on FOD performance specs, AIP eligibility, 

financial payback to airlines.

3. Spring 2012-3 Trapezoidal Grooves. Status: CLOSED as per slide.

CO suggested it remain open, but later discussion (on Day2) confirmed it would be 

closed. 

4. Spring 2012-4 Noise – Status: CLOSED. 

James White discussed the background for this noise survey project and that it’s of 

particular interest to the Office of Airports. A suggestion was made to make sure that 

complementary research is captured in a new recommendation.

5. Spring 2012-5 Heated Pavement. Status: CLOSED. As per Slide.

Chris Oswald stated that they were looking for additional concrete support from 

Scandinavian installations. He suggested that like the trapezoidal groove 

recommendation should be left OPEN at least until the project is discussed later in the 

day. 

6. Spring 2012-6 Aircraft Braking – Status: CLOSED. As per slide. There was discussion 

on whether to keep this open. Gloria suggested it be closed since the recommendations 

were met and if there are additional concerns, a new recommendation can be opened.

7. Spring 2012-7 REDIM – Status: CLOSED as per slide.

8. Fall 2012-1 Heated Airfield Pavements. Status: OPEN.

Jim Patterson informed that the Technical Center engineers did go to Oslo and that the 

Binghamton, NY project ran into money problems. The Binghamton project should be 

online during the 2013 summer and data collection should resume next winter. 
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9. Fall 2012-2 Aircraft Braking: Status: CLOSED.

10. Fall 2012-3 40 Year Pavement Life (Presented by Jeff Gagnon) - Status to remain OPEN.

Jim Patterson explained the special blade/patent issue for trapezoidal grooves. The 

subcommittee discussed whether additional full scale testing of trapezoidal grooves was needed. 

The subcommittee concluded that the previous testing had demonstrated a benefit by more 

quickly shedding water of the runway. They thought best way forward was for FAA to allow the 

use of trapezoidal groves along with standard grooves. The airports could decide if they wanted 

to incur the additional costs of using trapezoidal grooves. Determination on Recommendation

Spring 2012-3 – CLOSED.

Chris Oswald: Highlighted two more Recommendation items. 

1) Heated Pavements – Advanced Materials – Supported plan but wants to have periodic 

updates on progress, and incorporate intersections and taxiway exits into plan. There 

were suggestions for obtaining operational cost estimates, lifecycle costs for different 

types of systems.

2) Braking Friction – SC is interested in seeing results of dry/wet pavement testing at the 

Spring subcommittee meeting. If winter testing is not going to be available by spring 

meeting than propose to hold a call to discuss progress by June.

______________________________________________________________________________

Subcommittee on Airports |MINUTES

Meeting date | time 3/20/2013 9:00 AM

Presentation Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting | Presenter Keith Bagot

Discussion - Provided summary of recently completed live fire testing on the donated FedEx 

aircraft. Explained that we do not have an active lithium battery program, but we follow very 

closely and support the other group who does. Not to say we couldn’t consider it in the future.

There was discussion on the modeling capabilities, live fire tests for biofuels, disseminating 

information to cargo industry and showed 2 videos ARFF videos. 

Conclusion – Would like to continue to see information disseminated, especially to cargo 

aircraft groups.

Presentation Visual Guidance and Low Cost Surface Surveillance | Presenter

Robert Bassey

Discussion – Mr. Bassey showed videos on heliport work in North Dakota, and discussed the 

wind cone findings. He also discussed Low Cost Surface Surveillance – its implementation, 

benchmarks, and coordination with other groups doing similar LCSS work. In reference to the 

airport signage for construction project, coordination with ATC was also discussed. 
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Presentation Wildlife | Presenter Ryan King

Discussion – The subcommittee was reminded that strike reporting is voluntary. There was

discussion on why we’re doing research on the ground. Mr. King clarified we are looking at the 

ground as well as other phases of flight. He confirmed coordination with Alaska Airlines’ 

research in regards to pulsing lights. There was additional discussion on avian sensors and the 

possibility of using BOS as a test site for the FAA purchased Merlin radar once current testing is 

completed with USDA. 

Conclusion – A possible recommendation may be to assess the operational environment for bird 

radar.

Presentation Airport Planning | Presenter Holly Cyrus

Discussion – Questions were asked about how this tool can be used by the airports (spacing for 

new high speed exits). Ms. Cyrus clarified and said the goal was to update the data. There was a 

brief discussion about the differences between Runway Sim and REDIM. 

Conclusion – Now that the data has been updated, the Office of Airports must determine the 

next steps.

Presentation 2013 Pavement Projects | Presenter Jeffrey Gagnon

Discussion – Mr. Jeffrey Gagnon introduced the 2013 pavement projects and plans for FY14. 

There was a discussion on ASR issues and comments on the 40-year pavement design plan

Conclusion – It may be cost effective to haul in quality materials to get longer life from 

pavement and this should be considered. 

Presentation 40-Year Design Life Initiative | Presenter Dr. David Brill

Discussion – Dr. Brill clarified the 40-year life of asphalt pavement will include major 

maintenance cycles to get pavement back above a given lower limit. 40-year life must address 

both structural condition and functionally of the pavement. Issues about roughness would fall 

under functionally and criteria would have to be developed. It was suggested to look at issues 

concerning high tire pressure and shoving of pavement. What types of aircraft will be used to 

plan for 40 years? 

Conclusion – The 40-year life recommendation can be closed. A possible new recommendation 

would be to work with the concrete and asphalt industries to develop indexes for accessing 

pavement condition with regard to its expected life.

Presentation FAA PAVEAIR Update & Software Integration | Presenter Al Larkin

Discussion – James White commented that PAVEAIR has been a success story. Monte Symons 

agreed saying that it was always a problem getting data from a variety of sources across the 

nation because each entity was keeping their own individual records. 

Conclusion – Having data assembled in one application really helps and could be a real asset in 

the future.
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Presentation High Temperature Test Facility | Presenter Murphy Flynn & Dr. 

Navneet Garg

Discussion – There was discussion about the HVS facility. The HVS project will have one 

control room. Asphalt aging is better represented in outdoor environment. 

Conclusion – The HVS will be used to test surface materials while NAPTF vehicle tests 

subgrade structure.

Presentation Full Scale Testing Results and Future Testing | Presenter Dr. David 

Brill

Discussion – The current plan is to have one load for all test sections and to monitor strain levels 

produced in the various sections. CC6 concrete pavement tests were discussed. 

Conclusion – There was a suggestion which advised against relaxing the requirements on brittle 

mixtures without some qualification on aggregate composition and/or restriction on cement 

content. 

Presentation Reflective Cracking R&D Update | Presenter Don Barbagallo & Dr. 

David Brill

Discussion – The last series of testing with the rig went very well. Future testing was discussed; 

looking into interlayer crack arresting systems. 

Conclusion – Reflective crack testing with pavement wheel loads will probably wait until the 

HVS arrives since modification of existing rig is too costly.

Next Meeting – September 10-11, 2013 at the William J. Hughes Technical Center, NJ

Time Adjourned - 3:00 p.m.
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Attendance

Members

Christopher Oswald, Chair Rick Kessel Kevin Bleach

Barbara Busiek Mike Roginski Steve Jangelis

Flavio Leo Paul Martinez Gary L. Mitchell

Alfred Pollard Stephanie Saracco Monte Symons

James Wilding Dick Marchi

Other Attendees

Satish Agrawal, PPT Co-Chair James White, DFO FAA John Wiley, FAA

Cathy Bigelow, FAA Gloria Dunderman, FAA Kent Duffy, FAA

Murphy Flynn, FAA Jeff Gagnon, FAA Quinn Jia, FAA

Navnett Garg, FAA Donald Barbagallo, FAA Jim Patterson, FAA

Nick Subbotin, FAA Chuck Treubert, SRA Jerry Connelly, SRA

Peter Sparacino, FAA Halil Ceylan, Iowa State Seth Young, Ohio State

Keith Bagot, FAA Don Gallagher, FAA Lauren Vitagliano, FAA

Bill Allen, SRA Holly Cyrus, FAA Richard Wlezien, Iowa State

Jennifer Klass, SRA Joe Breen Jim Patterson, FAA

Robert Bussey Ryan King, FAA David Brill, FAA

Al Larkin, FAA
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FINDINGS & RECOMMENDATIONS: SUBCOMMITTEE ON AIRPORTS

SPRING 2013 MEETING

MARCH 19-20, 2013

FINDINGS & RECOMMENDATIONS

Finding: The Subcommittee is pleased to see that the turn-around time for research reports has 

been reduced from 9-12 months to 2-3 months as a result of reorganized editorial procedures.

Finding: The Subcommittee reiterated the need for continuing coordination between noise and 

sleep disturbance projects within the FAA Office of Energy & Environment’s research and 

development program (e.g., PARTNER Projects 24 and 25) and the noise study currently 

underway within the Airport Technologies Program (Airport Sleep and Annoyance/Aircraft 

Noise (RPD149). 

Recommendation: The Subcommittee recommends that the Subcommittee on Energy & 

Environment and the Subcommittee on Airports receive regular briefings regarding each 

subcommittee’s noise projects to ensure that redundancy among these projects is minimized.

Finding: Regarding RPD149, The Subcommittee would like to ensure that airport operators are 

informed about planned noise survey efforts well in advance of administration of these surveys.

Recommendation: The Subcommittee recommends that the RPD149 project team meet with 

airport noise/environmental specialists at the airports where noise perception surveys will be 

administered to review the survey contents, research objectives, and survey plan (e.g., 

communities that will be surveyed, survey sample sizes) in advance of administration of the 

surveys.

Finding: The Subcommittee appreciates the work to evaluate existing heated pavement 

installations in RPD155, but had concerns about whether advanced materials research should 

take place before more convincing evidence can be provided regarding the circumstances under 

which heated pavement systems are cost effective. 

Recommendation: The Subcommittee approved the 2013 & 2014 work plans for the RPD155, 

but would like to continue to receive detailed briefings concerning project progress. We strongly 

recommend that the FAA describe the circumstances under which heated pavements are likely to 

be cost beneficial (high-speed exits, critical turn locations, aprons) as well as the rationale behind 

this assessment. We also recommend that additional efforts be put forward to estimate the lifecycle costs of these systems.

Finding: FAA has provided improved explanations of the objectives, research plan, and 

progress associated with RPD147, Aircraft Braking Friction. They have also included “go/no go” 

decision points in the project schedule as requested by the Subcommittee. However, the 

Subcommittee continues to have concerns about the project’s complexity and challenges 

associated with producing meaningful research results.
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Recommendation: The Subcommittee will continue to closely monitor this project. We 

recommend that the FAA present results of dry/wet braking tests at our September 2013 meeting 

to assess project progress. In addition, if data from winter condition tests that will be performed 

during the Winter 2013-2014 season isn’t available for reporting by the Subcommittee’s Spring 

2014 meeting, the Subcommittee recommends holding a special coordination call with FAA staff 

to discuss these results in May or June 2014 to assess progress.

Finding: The Subcommittee is pleased to see that many of the FAA’s aircraft and rescue and 

firefighting projects are concluding successfully.

Recommendation: As ARFF project technical reports—particularly those associated with cargo 

aircraft—become available, we encourage the FAA to distribute widely to key stakeholders, 

including airport ARFF representatives and cargo airline representatives.

Finding: The Subcommittee believes that the FAA is making good progress on several research 

projects that deal with advanced sensor technologies (i.e., foreign object debris [FOD] detection 

in Airport Design (RPD133), avian radar in Wildlife Hazards Research and Development 

(RPD150), low cost surface surveillance in RPD151), but would like to see additional focus on 

the operational integration of these systems in the field environment. There is also a desire to 

utilize identified operational needs as the basis for technology specifications, rather than starting 

from current vendor system capabilities, which may exceed these operational needs.

Recommendation: The Subcommittee recommends explicit consideration of operational 

integration of the aforementioned airport sensor technologies into the airport environment and 

the development of operational justifications for the specifications developed under the research 

program.

Finding: Regarding Pavement Design and Evaluation (RPD 145), the Subcommittee believes 

that the FAA has addressed our recommendations from our Fall 2012 meeting on a conceptual 

level. These recommendations included (1) definition of the term “40-year design life” and (2) 

description of project success criteria. This said the Subcommittee would like to see 

refinement/embellishment of these definitions as the project proceeds. There was also a desire to 

have opportunities for more robust industry participation of the project by subject matter experts 

(SME) in both asphalt & Portland cement concrete design.

Recommendation: The Subcommittee recommends forming a SME advisory panel with 

selected members of the Subcommittee and the Airfield Pavement Working Group that can 

collaborate with the FAA project team directly in its refinement and execution of the RPD 145 

work plan, leaving the subcommittee free to focus on the higher level aspects of the pavement 

research program.

Finding: The Subcommittee believes that research conducted by the FAA demonstrates that 

trapezoidal transverse pavement grooves improve runway drainage and reduce groove wear in 

comparison to conventional rectangular transverse grooves.

Recommendation: The Subcommittee encourages the FAA to make necessary modifications to 

its advisory guidance—particularly Advisory Circular 150/5320-12C, Measurement, 

Construction, and Maintenance of Skid-Resistant Airport Pavement Surfaces—so that airport 
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operators can utilize trapezoidal grooves to improve runway drainage and friction under wet 

conditions should they desire.

Finding: The Subcommittee would like to emphasize the need for and value of the Airport 

Pavement Test Vehicle (RPD 135), construction of the high temperature pavement test facility. 

This facility will enable the testing of asphalt concrete pavements under “real-world” 

environmental conditions, including innovative AC paving techniques (e.g., warm mix asphalt) 

and new AC materials (e.g., advanced polymers binders, stone matrix asphalt, recycled asphalt).

Finding: The Subcommittee encourages the National Airport Pavement Test Facility (RPD 138)

project to continue investigating high strength concrete effects on pavement fatigue life. The 

current research results indicate that high strength (e.g., flexural strength of approximately 1000 

psi) PCC surface layers perform as well or better than medium strength PCC surface layers (e.g., 

flexural strength of 750 psi) assuming that the PCC layers are of the same thickness. While these 

results provide evidence that the FAA’s flexural strength design limits can be relaxed provided 

pavement section thicknesses are held constant, they do not address the important relationship 

between pavement strength and pavement thickness. The Subcommittee believes that the 

significant benefit of using higher strength materials lies in being able to reduce construction 

costs through the use of thinner PCC surface layers. Many local areas are able to achieve higher 

strength concrete with normal construction practices. Making use of this phenomenon is logical 

and can help reduce construction cost.

Recommendation: The Subcommittee recommends the FAA continue research on the effects of 

higher strength concrete on concrete pavement fatigue life by investigating the pavement life 

when reducing pavement thickness proportionally to the increase pavement strength. Until such 

research is completed, relaxation in maximum flexural strength limits for PCC surface layers 

should be conditioned on the retention of “conventional” PCC surface layer thicknesses.
Research, Engineering and Development Advisory Committee

AGENDA PPT Briefing to Sub-committee on Airports: March 19-20, 2013

March 19

9:00 am Introduction Mr. Christopher Oswald, ACI-NA, Subcommittee Chairperson (15 min)

9:15 am Update on FY-13 Budget/REDAC Process Mr. James R. White, Deputy Director, Office of Airport Safety and Standards, AAS-2 (20 min)

9:35 am State of ANG Mr. John Wiley, Manager, Aviation Research Division (15 min)

9:50 am Review of REDAC Recommendations Subcommittee and ANG-26 (40 min)

10:30 am Review of FY-13 R&D Progress Dr. Satish Agrawal, ANG-E260 (10 min)

10:40 am 2013 Safety Projects + Plans for FY-14 Mr. Jim Patterson – Overview of Airport Safety Section Projects, ANG-E261 (10 min)

10:50 am Break (15 min)

11:05 am Mr. Don Barbagallo - Heated Pavements (40 min) RPD 155 

11:45-12:30 pm Lunch

12:30 pm Mr. Joe Breen – Aircraft Braking Friction (40 min) RPD 147 

1:10 pm Mr. Paul Devoti - Road Map (20 min)

1:30 pm Ms. Lauren Vitagliano – Airport noise; Problematic Geometry; Safety Database; EMAS 

Marking/Signage; Approach Hold & RSA signs (45 min) RPDs 133, 149, 151

2:15 pm Mr. Don Gallagher –LED Lighting; New Technologies (15 min) RPD 151

2:30 pm Mr. Nick Subbotin – Surface Operations; Baffle Efforts; EMAS damaged by Sandy (25 min) 

RPD 148 Project

2:55 pm Mr. Keith Bagot – Cargo Firefighting; Biofuel; (35 min) RPDs 134, 140, & 152

3:30-4:15 pm Discussion/Recommendations Sub-Committee members and PPT
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March 20

8:30 am Mr. Robert Bassey – Research Taxiway; Low Cost Ground Surveillance; EIRT Test Team; 

Heliport; Windcone Study; Airport Construction Sign (35 min) RPDs 151, 153, 154

9:05 am Mr. Ryan King – Wildlife Mitigation, Strike Database, Detection/Deterrents (25 min) RPD 150 

9:30 am Ms. Holly Cyrus - Airport Planning (10 min) RPD 132

9:40 am 2012 Pavement Projects + Plans for FY-13 Mr. Jeffrey Gagnon - Overview of Airport Pavement Section, ANG-E262 (15 min)

9:55 am Dr. David Brill – 40 Year Design Life Initiative (45 min) RPD 144

10:55 am Break (5 min)

11:00 am Mr. Al Larkin – FAA PAVEAIR Update & Software Integration (45 min) RPD 143 

11:45-12:45 pm Lunch BBQ

12:45 pm Mr. Murphy Flynn/Dr. Navneet Garg – High Temp Test Facility (30 min) RPD 135

1:15 pm Dr. Brill– Full-Scale Testing Results and Future Testing (30 min) RPD 138

1:45 pm Dr. Brill/Mr. Barbagallo-Reflective Cracking R&D Update (20 min) RPD 136

2:05- 2:30 pm Discussions/Report

2:30-pm New Research Requirements for FY-2014 and FY-2015

3:30 pm Adjourn