Federal Aviation Administration Undertakes Major Hma Research for Airfield Pavements

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has undertaken a major hot mix asphalt (HMA) research program for airfield pavements. The Airfield Asphalt Pavement Technology Program (AAPTP) was established in fiscal year (FY) 2004 through a cooperative agreement between the FAA and Auburn University. The program will be funded by the FAA and will be administered by Auburn University. A t o t a l o f $ 1. 6 m i l l i o n w a s provided to the AAPTP for FY 2004, which was used to manage the program and to sponsor a number of HMA related research projects. It is assumed that this same level of funding will be provided in future years to continue this program; however, funding has been approved at this point for FY 2004 and 2005 only. The FAA provides annual funding for a large amount of HMA for construction and maintenance of a i r f i e l d p a v e m e n t s. A p-proximately 90 percent of the nation's runways are paved with hot mix asphalt. Due to this high utilization of HMA in airfields, research is needed to ensure optimum results are obtained. Many new developments in HMA, such as Superpave for highway pavement construction and maintenance, are being finalized and adopted to improve performance and reduce cost. These new developments need to be identified and adapted to airfield pavements. There is a desire to reduce overall costs and to produce longer lasting airfield pavements. The AAPTP has been geared to New developments in HMA for highways need to be adapted to airfield pavements.