AvTurf Cuts Down On Wildlife Incursions
The United States
Patent Office awarded patent 6,620,482 to AvTurf LLC of Chicago.
The patent, covering a safety system for airports and airfields,
was issued on September 16, 2003, making it the first product of
its kind in the aviation industry, announced Patrick Carr, founder
and president of AvTurf.
In May of 2001, the AvTurf� system was found acceptable
to install in the runway safety areas per 14 CFR Part 139 and
applicable advisory circulars.
With completion of testing at the FAA's William J. Hughes
Technical Center in Atlantic City, the AvTurf(R) system is poised
for industry-wide airport acceptance as the synthetic grass surface
designed to improve safety, reduce bird strikes and reduce delays
associated with runway operations. Testing and research will
continue at the FAA Center of Excellence at the University of
Illinois.
Manufactured and designed for non-paved areas between runways
and taxiways, the AvTurf system was developed and tested
specifically for airports and their environment. It has a life
expectancy of 10-15 years and serves as a tool for the nation's
airports seeking more efficient runways.
According to Carr, the patented system exceeds mandatory federal
requirements for airports. The AvTurf� system's blanket use
in the industry will increase runway safety and save millions of
dollars in money lost through runway delays and airfield
maintenance.
The testing of the AvTurf system began in 2000 followed by the
first- ever installation in Chicago in the fall of 2000. The system
successfully passed several tests, including exposure to jet blast,
the weight of a Boeing 757 airliner and fire testing. Additionally,
emergency and service vehicles totaling 80,000 pounds traversed on
the AvTurf system without any damage to the turf. Wildlife
biologist observations show that birds failed to congregate on the
surface, as they are accustomed to doing on natural turf.
"Our team has personally experienced the many certification
inspections, disaster drills, accident investigations, maintenance
and safety programs at airports," said Carr. "With the addition of
experts in synthetic fiber composition, manufacturing and
installation, we have successfully pooled our ideas and experiences
to design and implement the first-ever artificial turf for
airports."
According to Carr, the aviation industry can anticipate site
specific decreases in runway delays due to incursions, bird strikes
and maintenance of these areas.
The AvTurf system's features for improving airport safety
are:
- Reduces the food source for wildlife, thus reducing bird
hazards around runways and taxiways
- Increased visibility of safety areas resulting in reduced
incursions
- Emergency vehicle traffic can traverse AvTurf in any climatic
condition
- Compacted to hold occasional passage of aircraft in wet or dry
situations
- Superior drainage
- Eliminates soil erosion
- No mowing involved, reducing gas emissions
- Aids in the retention of hazardous fluids
- Fire retardant characteristics
Sierra Space Repositions Dream Chaser for First Mission
See All