Runway grooving project at Chicago Midway Airpor

Berry, M. J.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

21. RUNWAY GROOVING PROJECT AT 
CHICAGO MIDWAY AIRPORT 
By Michael J. Berry 
Chicago Midway Airport 
INTRODUCTION 
In November 1967 the entire length of runways 13R/31L and 4R/22L (fig. 1) were 
resurfaced with a continuous pour of concrete 100 feet wide. After the normal curing 
period for concrete, a slipperiness-when-wet condition a rose  and caused aircraft  
hydroplaning. 
A thorough investigation of this condition was made. Representatives of the air- 
lines, Air Transport Association of America, Federal Aviation Administration, Air Line 
Pilots Association, Chicago Department of Public Works, and Chicago Department of 
Aviation participated in the study. 
After a test demonstration of transverse grooving by Super-cut, Inc., the Chicago 
Department of Aviation submitted a request for labor, material, and equipment necessary 
to groove both runways in their entirety. Accordingly, plans and specifications were 
drawn up by the Chicago Department of Public Works, bids were submitted, and Brighton 
Building and Maintenance Company w a s  awarded the contract known as Public Works 
Project No. 419 and Federal Aid to Airports Program Project No. 9-11-016-11. 
The work on this project commenced on July 29, 1968, with a t ime limit of 50 days 
from starting date. The project was completed, within the allotted t ime limit, on 
September 14, 1968. 
DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT 
The existing concrete runway surfaces and adjoining asphalt shoulders were grooved 
1 to a depth of 1/4 inch. The grooves were 1/4 inch wide and were spaced 1 inches from 
center to center. The grooving was placed across  the 100 feet of concrete and extended 
an additional 1 foot on each asphalt shoulder. Accumulation of debris and slush resulting 
from the grooving operation was immediately washed from the runway into grass  areas 
by high-pressure hoses attached to high-pressure sprinkling trucks. 
;I 
Complete cooperation between Ralph Scafuri (Project Engineer), the Federal Avia- 
tion Administration control tower, the airport  management, and the contractor permitted 
continuous aircraft  operations during the entire period of this grooving project. 
309 
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19690011110 2020-03-12T07:33:42+00:00Z
Final inspection was made on September 26, 1968, by H. F. Zalewski, R. J. Bronson, 
L. Weinberg, N. DiGuito, V. Cronin, and Ralph Scafuri of the Bureau of Engineering; 
Michael J. Berry and Charles O'Connor of the Chicago Department of Aviation; C. W. 
Carstens and H. W. Hopper of the Federal Aviation Administration; and J. F. Mann of the 
Air Transport Association of America. These gentlemen accepted the completed project 
as satisfactory and according to plans and specifications. 
Independent inspections of the grooved runways were made by Larry Tennis (Flight 
Standards), George Davis (Manager of Dispatch), and Carl Johnson (Station Manager), 
representing American Airlines, and by Robert Fulton (Station Manager), John Kukar 
(Airport Engineer), Me1 Volz (Flight Manager), and Clark Luther (Regional Manager of 
Flight Operations), representing United Air Lines. All were satisfied that the grooving 
of these two runways would give top performance to landing aircraft by improving braking 
action and providing perfect drainage during rainfalls. 
COMMENTS 
It is the opinion of the airport management, as well as of pilots questioned at ran- 
dom, that the grooving undoubtedly provides a great improvement and reduces the pos- 
sibility of hazardous conditions for landing aircraft. It is too early at this time to make 
a determination as to any possible deficiencies in the construction of the runways due to 
the grooving. 
3 10 
13 R 
Figure 1.- Layout of runways 13R/31L and 4R/22L at Chicago Midway Airport. 
311 


Runway grooving project at Chicago Midway Airport

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

NASA Technical Reports Server