From Our Blog - Airport Engineering & Planning

Rapid Impact Compaction – An Alternative to Expensive Waste Removal
A Municipal Airport required a longer runway to accommodate the growing number of business jets using its facilities. However, there was a challenge in extending the runway due to physical limitations, as the proposed Runway 14 end was in close proximity to an...

Airport Professional Feature – Andrew Pomeroy
Gale Associates, Inc. will be conducting periodic interviews with Airport Professionals so that we may learn more about them, the facilities that they manage, and share it with other like-minded professionals. We hope you enjoy reading this profile of Andrew...

A River Runs Through It
Many municipal airports are surrounded by beautiful (but sometimes encroaching) natural resources. Fitchburg Municipal Airport is no exception. The Nashua River snakes around three sides of Fitchburg Municipal Airport. It is closest to Runway 14-32 at its southern...

The Benefits of Drones for Airport Engineering and Planning
In recent years, drones have become commonplace in many industries as a valuable multi-faceted tool to increase efficiency and add new capabilities. Engineering and planning for airports create a unique environment for drones. The following are a few examples of the...
Porous Pavement Update: How has it performed since 2017?
A Potentially Environmentally Sound Drainage Solution In 2017 Gale used Porous Pavement as a possible “out-of-the-box” solution at an airport that had issues promoting proper drainage from travel lanes. Since the installation, Gale has been tracking its performance...

Porous Pavement
A Potentially Environmentally Sound Drainage Solution Sometimes an “out of the box” solution is needed. The porous pavement (shown on a rainy day) was installed in 2016 in a taxilane between two old T-hangar buildings at a New England airport. It was an...

Slurry Seal and Seal Coating for Airport Pavement Maintenance.
To mitigate runway/taxiway and apron wear caused by heavy use and climate conditions on these long stretches of asphalt, effective regular maintenance is the key to keeping runways safe. Therefore, finding the right pavement treatment process is essential. Below are...

Could Artificial Turf Work at Your Airport?
Artificial turf is appearing on more and more airfields across the globe. Reasons for its use are varied and sometimes unexpected:Eliminates mowing in certain areasMakes areas of an airfield more visibleNeutralizes Foreign Object and Debris (FOD) on...

Airport Vegetation Management
Vegetation management is required at virtually all airports. Overgrown vegetation can cause a variety of problems including: Provides habitats for wildlife, which in turn creates hazards to aircraft operations Tall grass can obstruct airport lighting and signage...

LED or Incandescent Airfield Lighting?
Many airports are considering the differences between incandescent and Light Emitting Diode (LED) fixtures for runway and taxiway lighting. Each has its advantages and disadvantages.