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Airports International April/May 201834

“

“S chiphol has to contend

on a daily basis with a maritime environment and

climate, meaning that there is a high likelihood of adverse weather and changing wind direction. The climate changes we are all currently experiencing is resulting in more frequent and torrential rainstorms. And because the airport is located near to the Dutch coastline, there is also a greater chance of crosswind affecting preferred runway use, such as Schiphol’s north/south runways 18R-36L (known as the “Polderbaan” runway). Consequently, hydroplaning could lead to dangerous skidding and slippery conditions for aircraft, potentially causing air traf� c control to temporarily shut down a runway. Any such runway closure would pose a major problem for the third largest airport in Europe (after Heathrow and Charles de Gaulle).

“Being able to predict runway use is a determining factor in whether an airport can secure and maintain an advantageous position,” explained Paul Zeeuw, Senior Manager Maintenance & Operations at Asset Management Schiphol. “Pilots should simply be able to start or land, even during crosswinds and torrential rains. Skid resistance and excellent runway drainage are of vital importance in this regard. Therefore, treating the asphalt with an additional layer of EP-Antiskid helps us to guarantee runway use. That makes Schiphol a reliable partner for

Fifty beneficial years of EP-Antiskid surfacing by Possehl Spezialbau GmbH at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Pilots understand that adverse weather conditions may cause them to face emergency situations such as

skidding and hydroplaning during take-offs and landings. But with the help of EP-Antiskid surfacing on its six runways, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol has certainly gained the upper hand on safety.

OF ENGINEERING AND OPERATIONAL SUPPORT

FIFTY YEARS

its users, the airlines, which in turn bene� ts airport operations.”

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, which is currently celebrating its 101st anniversary, has been using EP-Antiskid on its six runways since 1967. “This translates into � fty years, half the time that Schiphol has been in operation,” said Melvin Bakker, Airside Maintenance Manager at Asset Management Schiphol, and colleague of Zeeuw. According to Bakker, this is due to both the added operational value that the surfacing provides as well as their close cooperation with German supplier Possehl Spezialbau GmbH.

Bakker: “Our cooperation is a real partnership. We stand shoulder to shoulder in the good times and the bad. If there is an issue, we come to the table as equal partners, striving to reach a solution together. Everyone contributes their own expertise. The knowledge that Possehl Spezialbau possesses about airside pavement is very pertinent to us.”

The continuous optimisation of EP-Antiskid has also contributed to our long-standing partnership, Bakker continued. “Sustainability is becoming more important and weather conditions are becoming more extreme. Possehl Spezialbau anticipated this in 2003 with its environmentally friendly alternative. Environmentally harmful substances were replaced by a specially developed epoxy, a plastic that is both non-harmful and boasts high adhesive power. The surface texture depth was also increased using a specially developed basalt. EP-Antiskid more than complies with EASA, ICAO and FAA standards.”

What is EP-Antiskid?EP-Antiskid developed by Possehl Spezialbau GmbH is a rigid surface that is applied over runway asphalt. The surface layer is similar to coarse sandpaper. It consists mainly of epoxy and sharp basalt. Firstly, EP-Antiskid ensures maximum friction between the tyres and the runway, meaning that an aircraft can brake much more powerfully while still keeping a steady course. Secondly, it improves water drainage, helping reduce the risk of hydroplaning. Another advantage is that EP-Antiskid extends the life of the runway itself, protecting the asphalt against fuel, jet blast and climatic in� uences. EP-Antiskid’s water transport capacity of 20 mm/hour surpasses that of grooving by more than 40%. This makes it a very suitable solution among the range of possible applications that have become necessary due to more extreme precipitation.

EP-Antiskid has made a signi� cant contribution to our business operations.

Marjolein de Leeuw

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ADVERTORIAL OPERATIONAL SAFETY

35Industry news at: www.airportsinternational.com

After extensively testing the environmentally friendly version, Schiphol decided to apply the product to its runways. In 2003 Schiphol chose the 06-24 (the “Kaagbaan” runway) as the � rst runway to be resurfaced. Zeeuw reports: “As an airport, we bene� t from learning together about the further development and innovation of our assets. EP-Antiskid is currently the top surfacing solution for asphalt on runways. Although there is an element of risk in every innovation, we also see it as an opportunity and we support the need for product development. The knowledge we have acquired helps us to prevent potential problems in the future and, in the case of EP-Antiskid, to guaranteerunway capacity.”

“For any innovation, and before agreeing to a test airside, we � rst carefully weigh up any risks to � ight safety,” Bakker added. “And during any testing period, we continuously monitor every change that takes place. Could you imagine if the product were to completely disintegrate during operational activities? Thankfully, we did not encounter any issues in the testing process during the transition from tar to epoxy surfacing or in the years since 2003. The results have all been positive. We are currently applying EP-Antiskid to our runways during every new renovation.”

The application of EP-Antiskid to the runways brings the added bene� t of enabling Schiphol to postpone the replacement of the asphalt or runway surfaces for as long as possible. This type of work has a major impact on the airport’s capacity. Bakker: “With EP-Antiskid we enjoy a tactical advantage in addition to operational bene� ts. This concerns sustainability and � nancial standards. In other words, more revenue is created due to the higher availability of runways. EP-Antiskid currently extends the service life of the runway surfaces between � ve to eight years. It requires virtually no maintenance and protects the underlying asphalt, which in turn also lasts longer and requires less maintenance. Although the investment costs are higher, the life cycle costs are signi� cantly lower.”

Royal Amsterdam Airport SchipholIn celebration of its 100th anniversary in 2016, Schiphol airport was granted the Royal designation. Royal Amsterdam Airport Schiphol or Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is the most important airport in the Netherlands and is also the hub for the airline KLM, part of the Air France-KLM Group. Schiphol is also the European hub for a number of international airlines, such as the airlines that make up the SkyTeam Airline Alliance. Schiphol is regarded as a ‘main port’ in the Netherlands, meaning it plays an important role in the regional economy as well as acting as a gateway to the Western European economy. The airport handles more than sixty million passengers annually and total nearly five hundred thousand flight movements. In consultation with local residents, the Dutch aviation industry and local authorities, an agreement was reached allowing for a maximum of five hundred thousand flights per year to and from Schiphol. This agreement will be in effect until the end of 2020. A new agreement will have to be reached for the period following 2020. Schiphol is committed to balancing sustainable development with environmental protection.

“ “The importance of an improved water drainage capability and optimised skid resistance for runways is still being underestimated. Schiphol is an international

transfer hub and we strive to be the best. Handling aircraft is a complex task considering the in� uence of our maritime climate and the standards on noise restrictions. With our six runways situated in different locations

around the air� eld, we are able to remain � exible and offer ample runway capacity under various conditions and circumstances.Paul Zeeuw, Senior Manager, Maintenance & Operations

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Airports International April/May 201836

Flexibility and noise pollutionThe growth of Schiphol goes hand in hand with noise pollution. Government noise level regulations can result in limited runway capacity. As a result, Air Traf� c Control frequently switches between the six runways at the airport. The purpose of this is to disperse noise levels and to prevent local residents from having to lodge complaints. The 18R-36L (the “Polderbaan” runway) is the preferred runway. This runway is the furthest from built-up areas. Taxiing takes more than ten to twenty minutes, but using this runway causes the least amount of noise pollution for local residents. It is also the preferred runway during night-time operations (between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.). In 2017, twenty-two percentage of all take-offs and thirty-eight percentage of all landings took place on the 18R-36L. Having to shut down this runway for maintenance or renovation purposes would cause quite a dilemma.

Possehl Airside ServiceExperienced and Innovative

Our concept of MORE is achieved by combiningcraftmanship, innovative application and in houseproduced state of the art materials.EP Antiskid is succesfully in use on more than 70Airports.

Money savingOperational maximizationReliable and predictableEnvironmentally friendly

Possehl EP-ANTISKID®

A unique runway surface dressing

For more information please contact our expertsm.dirschedl@possehl-spezialbau.dee.leeuw@possehl-spezialbau.de

POSSEHL SPEZIALBAU GMBH Phone +49 6701 20449-0Germany www.possehl-spezialbau.de

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