Centerlines - September 2008 - (Page 39) HOST AIRPORT The master planning effort includes grass, flowers and seasonal plantings along with perennials native to New England to make areas around parking garages, terminal roadways and service roadways attractive from an elevated point of view. “The area now looks wonderful,” said Kinton. “It is the typical New England look you would expect to see when you come to Boston.” for monitoring of airport airside surfaces utilizing a combined electrooptical and radar solution. The technology attaches to runway lights and constantly scans the surfaces of the runway. Upon a status change, an alarm sounds off, and the device’s camera zeroes in to provide a better view of the debris detected on the surface. “When this happens, you can stop activity and send an operations vehicle out to remove the foreign object to prevent engine damage, tire puncture or something worse,” Kinton said, noting that such an event would constitute a halt of all arrivals and departures until the surface was checked and cleaned of the debris. “So far, I think this technology holds a lot of hope,” Kinton said. “It is expensive, but so is engine damage and an aircraft becoming disabled as a result of debris on the runway.” ■ Turf Beautification efforts have teamed with up with safety on the airfield, where artificial turf is being tested as an alternative to natural groundcover. “We have many taxiways with islands of natural grass that require maintenance for cutting and grading deteriorated soil conditions if there are tire marks and ruts left from snow operations,” Kinton said. “These islands have never looked good because they are in the middle of the airfield and it was a lot of work to keep them safe in accordance with the 139 standard. So we put some of this turf down and it has improved the looks dramatically.” In addition to the upside that the turf doesn’t have to be cut, fertilized or maintained in any manner to remain green, this artificial turf doesn’t produce foreign material. “The airfield turf is actually reducing the attraction of birds—they don’t like it and don’t tend to congregate near or around it,” said Deputy Aviation Director of Airside Vince Cardillo. “Since it doesn’t get high and tall, you can see foreign objects easier. It is a very clean surface that makes the airfield cleaner and aesthetic.” Kinton said the airport plans to install more artificial turf as more projects crop up for repaving in areas close to the terminal islands that would tend to capture debris and cause maintenance headaches. Bring the currencies of the world to Your AIRPORT Serving the international traveler worldwide. For additional information on how to bring the Money Exchange to your airport, please send request to kari.timonen@changegroup.com. FOD Detection In addition to utilizing artificial turf as a foreign object debris (FOD) deterrent, Massport is piloting Xsight FODetect®, an automated system www.changegroup.com 212-391-7258 234 West 42nd St., New York, NY 10036 382762_TheChange.indd 1 www.aci-na.org | CENTERLINES AM39 6/23/08 11:58:32 http://www.changegroup.com http://www.aci-na.org
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