SubscribeIndependent studies and surveys conducted by airport operators identified a variety of benefits in using artificial turf technology.
When compared with traditional groundcover, aviation-grade artificial turf demonstrates the following attributes:
- Stabilization of runway and taxiway shoulders reduces potential grave safety hazards and high costs associated with aircraft veer-off and ensuing aircraft immobilization.
- Improved delineation between runways and shoulders enhances runway visualization for pilots.
- Reduced foreign object debris decreases the ever-present safety threat of foreign object damage.
- Artificial turf removes traditional sources of food, water and shelter and thereby contributes to non-lethal control of wildlife. In turn, this decreases potential birdstrike hazards.
- The need to close operational areas for mowing and maintenance is avoided, thereby improving overall airport operational safety by decreasing movement of personnel and equipment in these areas.
- ARFF response times are improved since vehicles are able to traverse unpaved surfaces during inclement weather without becoming mired in saturated soil. Additionally, migration of debris and other contaminants off unpaved areas onto runway/taxiway surfaces is prevented.
