The reporter expressed a safety concern relating to the poor condition of the surface of the apron area at the [location] airport. The reporter has advised that if an aircraft taxied over the affected area the chance of causing engine or airframe damage is very high.
As the owner and operator of the Airport, the Council recognises the importance of maintaining the safe operations of the facility for all users.
Maintenance works had been scheduled for repair of identified pavement failures, however this program has been disrupted by the above average rainfall that has been experienced during the 2015 wet season. The Airport has received 1,409 mm of rain to date this year.
The Council has issued instructions for the safe movement of vehicles airside with a view to reducing the potential for further degradation of the pavement. Refuelling operations have also been modified to assist with the management of this situation.
The Airport Manager has been monitoring the movement of all aircraft and vehicles as well as the nominated pavement areas and has taken appropriate actions to restrict any compromising of safety. The parking apron area has been recently modified to accommodate the after-hours attendance of aircraft from the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the refuelling requirements of their aircraft. This has also necessitated some restrictions to areas of movement for aircraft.
Long range rainfall forecasting has indicated there may be a small window of opportunity for the Council to undertake these emergent repairs and as such these works have been scheduled to commence on Monday 30 March 2015.
The Council has engaged the services of an experienced consulting firm, to undertake a review of the pavement at the Airport. They had been responsible for the pavement design on the runways, taxiways and aprons when the major upgrade for these areas was completed in [year].
The result of this investigation and the subsequent report will provide the basis for the ongoing management and potential upgrading of the airside pavements in not only the short term, by confirming the proposed method of emergent repairs, but also the longer term by providing detail for design parameters and a proposed staging of implementation of the proposed improvements.
CASA has reviewed the REPCON and notes the Council’s proposed actions to rectify the problem.
The airport operator has confirmed that the apron repair works have been completed.