Runway & Ramp Special Edition

Welcome back, my friends, to the show that never ends. We’re so glad you could attend. Come inside! Come inside.

For those of you old enough to know this Emerson, Lake & Palmer lyric from the early ’70s, you’re welcome for the earworm.

Airport Improvement wasn’t around in the early ’70s, but we have been covering runways in every issue since the magazine was launched in 2008. A huge nomination list of compelling runway stories inspired our annual Runway & Ramp edition, which we’ve been publishing since 2010. It’s a real honor to provide airports throughout North America with an entire issue dedicated to airfield projects. No other magazine does it. 

Given that we still have more project nominations for runways than any other category, it’s easy to devote an entire issue to this special content. The hard part is sifting through all the great story ideas to select the best ones to share with you.

What’s so special or interesting about the airfield projects profiled this year? It’s the ingenuity of the airports, their consultants and suppliers. For instance…

Who knew that the shape of runway grooves could be so important? Well, Cardinal/International Grooving and Grinding recommends trapezoids rather than traditional square cuts. See why here.

The installation of engineered material arresting systems (EMAS) has been a lifesaver. Literally. But did you know that the EMAS available today are quite different from those installed 10 years ago? The SAN story here will tell
you more.

Lastly, even ordinary walkways can inspire. Look to our Artscapes feature here. The maintenance staff at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International painted the floor of a pedestrian tunnel to match the appearance of 4-22, the airport’s 7,501-foot main runway. Not only did they paint the runway, but they also installed runway lights on either side.

Please enjoy these and other examples of airport ingenuity in this special edition.

Cheers!