SubscribeAir FieldTurf is the global leader in the design, development and installation of aviation-grade artificial turf (AGAT™) as a versatile, effective and damage-tolerant airside replacement for natural groundcover at aerodromes and heliports.
Offering significant performance benefits, AGAT™ is currently installed at several international, military and municipal aerodromes.
Why use AGAT™? By replacing natural turf, AGAT can mitigate risk, improve operational efficiency, and contain costs by application in:
- Runway end safety areas (RESAs);
- Movement areas;
- Other areas with safety, security, maintenance or environmental issues.
What is AGAT? Artificial turf is made by binding synthetic grass-like fibres into a backing and then maintaining them upright with infill material (i.e. sand, etc.). Although visually similar, AGAT™ differs from synthetic sports or landscaping turf in critically important ways regarding design, materials and function and is qualified to withstand the rigours of the airside environment while maintaining structural integrity and required performance.
AGAT™ is installed on a base meeting aerodrome requirements concerning load bearing, slope, clearance, and drainage. The edges are then anchored and sealed and the installation ballasted with infill material.
Using special adhesives, AGAT™ may also be glued to surfaces scheduled for obliteration (i.e. disused taxiways). Manufacturing, installation, and maintenance are controlled within a quality system and performed by specially certificated personnel.
How can AGAT improve safety? Some airside hazards are well-known, many are chronic, and most have the potential to cause catastrophic loss. Ground safety events alone account for 66% of total hull loss accidents and 14% of fatalities involving commercial jets.
Jet blast and foreign object debris (FOD) are factors in 33% of events in which moving aircraft suffer ground damage. In-flight hazards. Aircraft collisions with birds (and other wildlife) are a serious safety and economic problem. Other in-flight hazards include loss of visual contrast (due to seasonal variations, frost damage, etc), loss of contact (due to bush-clearing fires, etc.), and brownouts (excessive dust or debris created by rotorcraft operations near the ground). AGAT™ is inhospitable to wildlife, providing no food, water, shelter or camouflage while maintaining constant appearance regardless of season.
It eliminates the need for bush-clearing fires and traps FOD. Ground hazards. Aircraft can and do undershoot, overrun, or veer from movement areas, often with disastrous consequences and usually during inclement weather when vehicle access to the event area may be hindered by muddy areas. Even when involving minor or no damage, aircraft can become mired, forcing runway closure to await debogging by aircraft recovery services.
To reduce risk, ICAO Annex 14 requires a cleared, graded and suitably prepared RESA beyond the end of specified runway strips, clear of non-frangible equipment and installations. A covering layer of AGAT™ allows easy identification of the RESA, avoids having to access the RESA for bush-clearing or mowing, and increases the conspicuity of the runway threshold. Stormwater must be routed in ways which do not interfere with the safety of ground movements, take-offs or landings. Poor drainage causes standing water, increasing the risk of hydroplaning, erosion, and obscuration of movement area markings.
AGAT™ controls stormwater either by rapid draining into the sub-base or by channeling into storm sewers, swales or channels. This protects the subbase and distributes aircraft and vehicle loads to prevent rutting and sinking into saturated grassed areas FOD, whether man-made (i.e. wires, asphalt pieces, etc) or natural (i.e. coral, dust, stones, etc.) can damage engines, wings, fuselage and tires. AGAT™ is immune to jet blast effects and protects movement area edges from erosion by jet blast or water, thus eliminating a major source of FOD. Environmental hazards.
Aerodrome operations pose significant threats to human health and the environment from hazardous materials, herbicides and pesticides and pollution from noise, emissions and disposals. AGAT™ requires no water, nutrients, or seeding and, by eliminating unneeded vehicle movements, reduces pollution and the demand for fossil fuels.
Additionally, the infill material filters stormwater contaminants. Emergency response hazards. Responding appropriately to an aircraft emergency is a critical challenge facing aerodrome management. By protecting the subbase and distributing loads, AGAT™ prevents saturated grassed areas which impede access to event sites, avoiding emergency response vehicles from becoming mired in muddy ground or suffering rollover.
This also facilitates movement away from the aircraft to improve passenger evacuation. Security hazards. AGAT™ inhibits plant and vegetation overgrowth which obstructs a clear view of perimeter and access controls, interferes with operation of sensors and monitors, and camouflages security breaches.
Is AGAT™ cost effective? The value of AGAT™ benefits (improved loss control, enhanced operational efficiencies, reduced maintenance, smaller environmental footprint, etc.) indicate an average payback period of seven years and an expected life of 15 to 20 years.
The durability, flexibility and effectiveness of AGAT™ is superior to natural turf and its use is expected to become widespread.
Capt. Donald Van Dyke is Managing Director of Air FieldTurf, Montreal. He also chairs the Royal Aeronautical Society-Montreal Branch and was formerly a member of the ICAO Operations Panel. Further details about AGAT™ are available at Air FieldTurf's website (www.airfieldturf.com).
Figure 1: Engineered to meet the aerospace demands, aviation-grade artificial turf effectively enhancing safety by reducing operating complexity, mitigating erosion, managing FOD, deterring wildlife, improving contrast and minimizing environmental impact.
| Airside Surfacing-Related Hazard | Defences Provided By Aviation-Grade Artificial Turf (Agat™) |
| In-flight safety Bird strikes. Loss of visual contrast or contact. Brownouts. | Augments landing/departure safety Discourages presence of birdlife. Fewer crosswind operations. Reduces or eliminates helicopter and VTOL brownout. Reduces operating complexity Eliminates unnecessary runway / taxiway closures for mowing. Enhances conspicuity Safer approaches by avoiding cross-identified runways and taxiways. Better wind assessment with high-contrast background for wind cones. Earlier correct approach lineup means fewer missed approaches. |
| Ground safety Movement area incursions (aircraft, people, vehicles). Other wildlife threats (deer, coyote, etc). Movement area contamination (FOD, stormwater). Jet blast /rotor wash. Deteriorated surfaces (erosion, cracking, sterile). Obscured ground aids (overgrown signage and lights). Exposed, non-frangible ground aids (runway end lights, etc). Poorly denoted restricted-use areas (closed, unserviceable). Loss of visual contrast/contact. Post-excursion immobilization of aircraft / vehicles. | Reduces movement area contamination Traps debris and dust to facilitate easy removal of FOD. Mitigates cracking asphalt which itself can be a source of FOD. Improves erosion and water management Provides superior drainage and eliminates standing water. Immobilizes sterile soil and eliminates jet blast effects. Deters wildlife Discourages accommodation and concentration of wildlife. Augments ground safety Enhances contrast and visibility. Reduces need to access RESAs. |
| Emergency response Blocked / impeded RFFS access or RFFS vehicle. rollover/turnover. Uncontained fuel or chemical spill, fire. Passenger evacuation injuries. | Improves all-weather airfield access Avoids blocked / impeded RFFS access, rutting, and RFFS vehicle rollover. Infill approved by many fire departments as a fire break. Enhances safety of passenger/crew evacuation procedures. |
| Environmental safety Naturally-flammable materials (dried grass). Uncontained hazardous materials. Unavailable noise-preferred runways. Unnecessary noise and emissions. Needless demand for water, fertilizers, herbicides. | Reduces environmental risks Avoids herbicide and pesticide use. Augments management of airfield contaminants. Eliminates need for seeding, fertilizer, water, and brush-clearing fires. Discourages mould or mildew. Fewer ground vehicle movements reduces noise and emissions. |
| Aerodrome security Overgrown aerodrome perimeter. Security sensors overgrown by weeds/grass. | Inhibits plant and weed growth Improves line-of-sight. Avoids interference with security sensors. |
Table 1. Example airside safety hazards and defences provided by AGAT™.