Runway Safety: The Origins Of The FAA

Read Time: 3 Minutes

When the Wright brothers took flight in 1903, the world discovered the commercial potential of air travel. With the design of practical airplanes by 1905 and their tactical use during World War I, the growth of the aviation industry was inevitable. However, alongside the excitement came concerns over safety. The evolution of runway safety is deeply tied to the birth of the FAA, the advancement of runway design, and innovations like Chemtek’s Avion50 for solving the rubber buildup problem.

Table of Contents

Early Complications With Runway Safety

After World War I, many businesses began recognizing the value of commercial air travel. The postal system became one of the first major drivers of the need for airfields, as planes were used to deliver packages across the country. At this time, navigation was rudimentary, with pilots relying on magnetic compasses and landmarks like railways to guide them.

Runway visibility, especially at night, was a major issue. Pilots had little more than bonfires to light their way to a landing area. This unsafe practice led to the formation of the Archie League in the 1920s, the first attempt at air traffic control. In 1926, the Air Commerce Act formalized these efforts, laying the groundwork for modern air travel by:

Establishing rules for air traffic
Licensing pilots
Developing navigational aids

Increasing Runway Safety Regulations

By the 1930s, air travel expanded rapidly. The Bureau of Air Commerce was created in 1934 to manage air traffic using simple tools like blackboards to track flights, but there was still no direct communication between pilots and controllers. Notable accidents involving prominent figures such as a New Mexico senator and a Notre Dame football coach spurred the public to demand more oversight. In 1938, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Civil Aeronautics Act, forming the Civil Aeronautics Authority (CAA) to investigate accidents and regulate the commercial airline industry.

In 1940, the CAA split into two entities: the Civil Aeronautics Administration, which handled air traffic control and safety enforcement, and the Civil Aeronautics Board, which regulated the industry and investigated accidents. This structure remained in place until the emergence of jet airliners in the 1950s, which changed the landscape of aviation.

The Need for Modern Systems

With the arrival of commercial jet airliners in the 1950s, the speed and size of aircraft created new challenges. Planes like the Boeing 707 flew at speeds exceeding 480 mph, far outpacing the older propeller aircraft. The volume of air traffic soared, and a tragic collision over the Grand Canyon in 1956 made it clear that more stringent regulations were needed.

In 1958, the Federal Aviation Agency (later renamed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 1967) was established. Over the next few decades, the FAA introduced numerous safety measures, from modernizing air traffic control systems to addressing runway overruns and environmental concerns.

Runway Safety: Design Evolution

In the early days of aviation, runways were simple dirt, grass, or clay strips built in various shapes to accommodate wind direction. As air travel became more widespread, so did the need for paved surfaces. By 1928, Ford Field in Michigan had the first paved runway, setting a standard for modern airports.

One of the early issues with runways was drainage. Many airports were built on flat, low-lying land, leading to standing water on runways. Fog also posed a challenge to visibility. These issues prompted the construction of new airports at higher elevations and with improved drainage systems.

In the 1930s and 1940s, runway length became increasingly important. As aircraft grew larger, runways needed to accommodate the heavier planes. By the 1970s, large airliners like the Boeing 747 required runways over 12,000 feet long. This trend eventually reversed with the introduction of turbofan engines, which allowed planes to take off from shorter runways. NASA developed runway grooving in the mid 1960’s as a response to the problem of rubber buildup. This practice was quite successful in increasing runway surface friction, and is still in use today at airports and on highways.

Modern Problems, Modern Solutions

Despite advances in aircraft design, one persistent problem remains: rubber buildup on runways. Runway safety is compromised when rubber deposits reduce friction, leading to potential overruns and skidding during landing. The solution to this issue, however, has also evolved.

Chemtek, a company known for its innovations in airport maintenance, tackled this issue head-on. Recognizing the damage caused by high-pressure water blasting, Chemtek developed Avion50, a detergent specifically designed to remove rubber buildup. Unlike mechanical methods, Avion50 is both cost-effective and environmentally friendly, and it can be applied with equipment that most airports already have on hand.

Conclusion

The development of the FAA, runway design, and modern solutions to runway safety problems like rubber buildup reflect the ongoing evolution of air travel safety. From the days of bonfire-lit landings to today’s high-tech solutions, the aviation industry has made significant strides. Chemtek’s Avion50 detergent is one of the latest innovations, ensuring runway safety and functionality, even in the face of modern challenges.