Independent Review of a Pavement Management Programme

Pavement Management Programmes (PMP) are essential to ensuring the safety and longevity of airport runways, taxiways, and aprons. In line with the Regulation (EU) No 139/2014 the objective of a pavement management programme is to 

• Avoid and eliminate any FOD that might cause damage to aircraft, 
• Prevent the formation of harmful irregularities,  
• Ensure surface friction characteristics of the runway, and   
• Take corrective maintenance action when needed. 

Just recently, airsight reviewed the pavement management system applied at a major European international airport to analyse the effectiveness of the pavement condition assessment and identify opportunities for improvement.

Analysis and Findings 

The review process revealed several key insights regarding the airport’s current pavement management system. A few critical aspects of the analysis include data collection and quality, inspection frequency and procedure, as well as non-visual inspection methods.

From Assessment to Action: Recommendations for Improvement

The review identified several opportunities to make the pavement management programme more robust and data-driven. Key recommendations include: 

• Introducing automated multi-functional vehicles (MFVs) for a more accurate and consistent data collection. 
• Establishing data quality control procedures to ensure reliable inputs. 
• Refining maintenance thresholds to prioritise interventions effectively. 
• Incorporating additional performance parameters such as rut depth, evenness, and friction. 
• Enhancing inspector training and integrating historical data to support predictive maintenance. 
• Adopting a more targeted maintenance strategy focused on high-traffic areas. 

Conclusion: Building a Smarter, Safer, and More Sustainable PMP  

By implementing automated assessment tools, improving data quality and staff training, incorporating additional performance metrics, and leveraging historical data for predictive planning, the airport can enhance the accuracy, efficiency, and responsiveness of its pavement management programme. These measures will help ensure safer, longer-lasting, and more cost-effective pavements in the long term.

Supporting Airports Worldwide 

With extensive experience in airfield infrastructure and regulatory compliance, airsight supports airports worldwide in developing, assessing, and optimising pavement management programmes. 

If you would like to learn more about how we can help enhance your airport’s pavement performance, get in touch with our experts from airsight’s Aerodrome Planning Department.