A&A Safety Demonstrates Runway Pavement Marking Removal Techniques at the Airfield Marking Symposium
Cincinnati Demo Displays Cleaning and Removal Best Practices to Increase Visibility for Pilots and Help Keep Jet Engines Safe
“Your team did an excellent job removing and cleaning lines at the demo – especially cleaning rubber on the runway white edge line, as I measured retro before they cleaned and after.”
Overview
Due to our strong background in pavement marking removal and specific expertise in airport marking removal, A&A Safety was called upon to exhibit best practices at the Airfield Marking Symposium training certification held at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG).
Airport and runway maintenance operations carry critical safety concerns. Surfaces must be kept clean at all times, so excess debris cannot be ingested into airplane engines. Runway pavement maintenance initiatives typically include:
- Rubber and Dirt Removal – As dirt and rubber from plane tires collect on runway pavement markings, reflectivity decreases and they become harder for pilots and ground crews to see.
- Marking Rejuvenation – As markings age, dirt removal is sometimes not sufficient. When this is the case, a thin top layer of the marking can be removed to better expose the reflective material and brighten the lines.
- Marking Removal – Long-term use or changes in traffic patterns may require that markings be completely removed and reapplied.
The symposium was designed to educate Airport Marking Professionals (AMPs) on meeting and exceeding airfield marking standards. The AMP curriculum incorporated industry standards based on the latest FAA guidance and the Airfield Marking Handbook. The symposium also showcased advanced equipment used in airfield marking maintenance, demonstrating best practices such as marking cleaning and removal, the use of airless paint equipment, paint and glass bead application and calibration, stencil use, preformed thermoplastic installation, and retro-reflectivity testing.
A&A Safety Demonstrates Advanced Techniques
The demonstration offered a valuable opportunity to showcase our expertise and efficiency in airfield maintenance and marking solutions. A&A Safety was asked to demonstrate advanced pavement marking removal, cleaning and rejuvenation techniques. Using one of our water blasting trucks equipped with specialized removal technology, the A&A Safety team efficiently rejuvenated runway markings, removing a thin layer to increase retroreflectivity, and then cleaned the area to ensure proper adhesion of new markings.
A&A Safety operates a highly specialized fleet of pavement removal trucks using high-end equipment. As pavement marking and removal specialists, A&A Safety offers an experienced team of technicians who are proficient in the use of best-in-class technology.
Challenges
Airport marking maintenance includes a number of challenges, such as:
- Safety & Compliance – Prior markings must be completely removed to avoid visual confusion while taxiing or during takeoffs and landings.
- Cleanliness – Debris that is not removed properly can be ingested into airplane engines, creating a significant safety risk.
- Proper Equipment – Specialized equipment is often required for the sensitive nature of airport marking removal.
- Technique and Process – Although having the proper equipment is a requirement, meeting and exceeding airport standards comes down to effective techniques.
Results
A&A Safety’s demonstration was a key learning opportunity for the pavement marking professionals who attended. Not only was A&A’s superior expertise evident to the naked eye, but also using a Mobile Retroreflectometer.
Impact of Airport Marking Cleaning by A&A Safety
Mobile Retroreflectometer Millicandelas (MCD) Reading
Before Removal
66 MCD Average
After Removal
330 MCD Average
“The MCD Reading indicates the amount of light reflected back to the viewer from a particular pavement marking (retroreflectivity). Simply put, it measures how bright the line appears when light is shined on it. These results are excellent, indicating a 500% improvement in retroreflectivity.”
Stoney Luttmer
A&A Safety
Cincinnati Branch Manager
In fact, another marking removal team used the similar equipment to provide a demo for another portion of the symposium. The visual results were clearly not as good as A&A Safety’s. After the symposium concluded, A&A was requested to provide additional removal services for those markings so that all cleaned or removed markings met the same standards and maintained compliance.
Conclusion
A&A Safety offers superior quality for all aspects of pavement marking removal, including the intricate and specialized areas of airport marking removal. With direct expertise using high-quality equipment like the Stripe Hog, A&A Safety is an authority in marking removal process and technique throughout Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and the greater mid-west region.