SubscribeNose wheels of aircraft are touching the ground on runways all over the world not aware of the danger caused by little clods of paint peeling of the center line.
Airport Runway Maintenance and Repair Work
The Airport Industry is facing this growing problem and may need to act in the near future. Several inspections on site by our company gave us the opportunity to find the right and immediate solution for the customer, without closing down extensive areas of the runway or cost-intensive repair works.
Paint markings on some airports are in a very critical condition. Extensive areas are affected by large paint blistering caused by insufficient adhesion of the several layers of paint to each other. This is the result of multiple applications of acrylic liquids without prior cleaning of the affected surfaces. Furthermore, the adhesion between the concrete surface layer and the first paint layer (this may reach back when runways were built) is insufficient, causing these large pieces of paint conglomerates to peel off the surface and represent an enormous safety risk for aircraft engines and passengers. Especially the center line in the two touchdown areas are affected.
Since the micro and macro texture of the concrete surface is very sensitive to any mechanical impact, the high-pressure water blasting technology has been selected on all major European Airports as the leading technology to fulfil this operation in the past and the present. We strongly recommend NOT to use any mechanical equipment for this process. Long lasting experience showed us that this process would ruin the surface sustainable and affect the safe takeoff and landing of aircrafts in the future.
Process description and technical specifications of
Paint Marking Removal with High-Pressure Water Blasting Technology:
Removal of colour marking on concrete surfaces using 400kW ultra high pressure water blasting technology with an integrated extraction by suction system. Dependant on the construction and condition of the runway, the right pressure is chosen in order to save the micro and macro texture of the surface. The significant advantage is gained by the multijet system, a combination of very little water ( 1L/nozzle/minute) and the ultra high pressure (2.500bar). The removal width varies between 220mm (22nozzles) and 1.000mm (44nozzles)
Debris and dirty water resulting from demarking operation are deposited into a tank integrated into the unit, with a separate tank for fresh water storage. Such arrangements make the unit self contained and allow maximum utilization of valuable time on the runway.
In case of emergency landings, the unit will leave the runway immediately, leaving a clean and almost dry surface for air traffic behind!
