Assessment and Rehabilitation of Foreign Object Damage Potential on Airfield Shoulder and Blast Pavements

Abstract

Foreign object damage (FOD) is a term used by the aviation industry to describe damage caused by any object that can be ingested by an aircraft engine or flight control mechanism. FOD is estimated to cost the global aerospace industry up to $4 billion annually. Deteriorated pavements are one source of FOD and fall into two categories: runway, taxiway, and apron pavements that aircraft traverse and shoulders and other infield pavements that are not traversed but are subjected to jet blast. Widely recognized procedures for the assessment of pavements traveled on by aircraft are well documented. However, procedures for the assessment of FOD potential for shoulder and blast pavements at commercial airports are not widely recognized. In an effort to manage shoulder and blast pavements proactively and eliminate pavement-related FOD incidents, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey undertook to assess the current condition of these pavements, rehabilitate and repair areas with unacceptable FOD potential, and initiate periodic inspections on these pavements to facilitate the implementation of an effective pavement maintenance and rehabilitation program. To achieve this goal, a dual project- and network-level inspection approach was implemented. The project-level objective was to identify immediate repairs needed to address unacceptable FOD potential. The network-level objective was to assess the current condition and initiate a proactive inspection regime to assist in maintaining these pavements. The approaches to assessment and rehabilitation are detailed and steps to implement a pavement management system for these pavements are discussed.