Saarbrücken Airport (SCN): Study regarding runway rehabilitation and adjustments to the strips

The existing runway (09/27) was rehabilitated in 2009.  Approximately a year and a half after this work, bubbles and ground water seepages were again identified.  Taken as a whole, the problems indicate that almost the entire runway is saturated.

The pattern of damage was investigated by (the engineering company commissioned with the 2009 rehabilitation work), and in further external experts.  This involved both, the extraction and analysis of core samples, as well as the surveying of the entire drainage system.

To date, the following actions have been taken:

• In total, nine rehabilitation areas have been identified. Up to now, two rehabilitation areas (in which a poor substructure has been ruled out) have been rehabilitated.
• A drainage system, which for many years was not attached to the rainwater sewer, has been connected.
• Blocked drains have been flushed through and the condition of the drainage system has been surveyed.
• Defective sewers and drains in the area of taxiway B have been repaired

In spite of all these actions, the overall condition of the runway has deteriorated.

Furthermore, the so-called strips at a distance of 75 m from the runway centreline do not comply with the requirements set out by the ICAO and EASA with regard to gradient and load carrying capacity.

The study consists of, as a first step, a review of the existing documentation, and the recording, collation and assessment of the current situation, regarding both the runway and the strips.

The second step involves the development of three rehabilitation options for the runway.  In each case this includes an estimate of the implementation costs, as well as an outline of the scheduling of the individual actions.  Where appropriate, alternative implementation steps are shown.

Finally, the rehabilitation options for the runway will be assessed and weighed against each other.  Subsequently, a preferred option with be identified.

In parallel to this work, an EASA-conforming configuration of the strips will be devised.  This will comprise required adjustments to the layered construction of the so-called graded portion (load carrying capacity), measures with regard to manhole ramps and the like (negative obstacles), and a costs estimate.  A projected time schedule will also be outlined.

igr was formally commissioned on 10.08.2016 with the preparation  of the study for the rehabilitation of the runway and the strips.  The goal is to complete the study in the first quarter of 2017.

Flug-Hafen-Saarland GmbH intends to commission igr on an on-going basis using a framework contract.