SubscribeSmoother Landings Ahead – TrackJet successful on Indian Subcontinent
In order to improve runway maintenance and pave the way for smoother landings, Delhi International Airport (P) Limited (DIAL) has acquired state of the art runway de-rubberizing equipment. Called the TrackJet, this ultra-modern equipment utilises a revolutionary high-pressure water jet technology to clean up rubber deposits on the runway's surface. This particular version of TrackJet was especially developed to cope with operating conditions in India by Weigel Hochdrucktechnik in Germany.
 |
Runway Surface Rubber Deposits
Rubber deposits form due to the friction created between the wheels of a landing aircraft and the runway's surface. This phenomenon is commonly seen as the puff of white smoke which is emitted when an aircraft's wheels touch the ground. Rubber deposits accumulated over a period of time reduce the grip available to an aircraft during landings. Hence to ensure the highest safety levels, these deposits have to be periodically removed.
 |
Runway Maintenance Equipment
Cleaning with TrackJet technology provides an optimum level of friction as stipulated by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). Traditional cleaning methods are slow and involve intensive manual labour, while achieving only moderate results. They also carry the risk of damaging the runway and thereby reducing its life span. TrackJet technology solves all of these problems with runway maintenance equipment that can remove rubber deposits at the rate of 800 sq. m. per hour with the help of just one operator. Moreover, the high pressure water jet technology is extremely gentle to the runway surface and consequently reduces the long-term maintenance costs.
 |  |
| Rubber removed on top of paint marking | before and after |
DIAL has been given the mandate to finance, design, build, operate and maintain the Delhi Airport for 30 years with an option to extend it by another 30 years. DIAL is committed to providing world class facilities to passengers at the Delhi Airport and also ensuring top-notch safety standards in operations. As a result of the successful application of TrackJet, DIAL's sister concern, GHIAL, which will operate the soon to open Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Shamshabad, Hyderabad has also procured this equipment.
New Delhi, February 2, 2008
