Airport Workshop

7:30 AM – 8:00 AM – Breakfast

8:00 AM – 8:30 AM – Welcome and Workshop Agenda
Attendees will provide self-introductions and ACPA’s Chief Engineer will outline the content of the workshop and discuss the objective of the concrete paving industry in holding this all-important workshop.

8:30 AM – 9:00 AM – FAA Western Pacific Region Welcome and Discussion of Regional Issues
This presentation will welcome everyone to the FAA Western Pacific Region. A representative from the FAA Western Pacific Region or Phoenix Airport District will discuss FAA expectations for paving projects as well as highlight and discuss some of the issues important to the FAA Western Pacific Region.

9:00 AM – 9:45 AM – United States Air Force Welcome, Introduction, and Discussion of Agency Concerns
In this presentation, we will discuss the various aspects of airfield pavement requirements for military airports from the government’s perspective. The discussion will center around the airfield pavement using agency’s concerns and why strict requirements for high quality, durable pavements are so important.

9:45 AM – 10:00 AM – BREAK

10:00 AM – 10:45 AM – United States Army Corps of Engineers Transportation Systems Center Introduction and Discussion of Agency Concerns
This presentation will highlight the role of the Transportation Systems Center in providing airfield pavement expertise to the Army and Military Tri-Service airfield infrastructure programs. We will also highlight some of the challenges and successes the TSC team has seen throughout the military airfield paving world.

10:45 AM – 11:30 AM – Overview of Federal Aviation Administration Guidance on Pavement Design and Construction Advisory Circulars & Engineering Briefs
Projects funded using FAA grant-in-aid or Passenger Facility Charge programs are required to be executed in accordance with FAA policies, regulations and standards. This lesson will present a brief discussion of the required policies and standards that must be followed for qualifying airfield pavement design and construction projects.

11:30 AM – 12:00 PM – Overview of Department of War Guidance – UFC’s, TSPWGs and Other Standards
Numerous guide documents exist that must be followed for the design and construction of military pavements. This lesson will offer a brief discussion of the required guidance that should be followed for military airfield pavement design and construction.

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM – LUNCH
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1:00 PM – 1:45 PM – FAA and UFGS Specifications for Subbase, Base and Stabilized Base Construction
Subbase, base, and stabilized base construction are all important for proper airfield pavement construction. The lesson will present and discuss both FAA and UFGS specification requirements for subbase, base and stabilized base layers in concrete airfield pavement construction.

1:45 PM – 2:45 PM – FAA P-501 Cement Concrete Pavement Specification
FAA Advisory Circular 150/5370-10, Item P-501 is the guide specification for airfield concrete pavement construction. In this lesson, the attendees will gain an understanding of the requirements and intent of the airfield concrete pavement specification. Discussion will focus on common areas of concern that need to be understood by the owner, engineer, and contractor. Upcoming changes to P-501 will also be discussed.

2:45 PM – 3:00 PM – BREAK

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM – Unified Facilities Guide Specification (UFGS) 32 13 14.13 Concrete Paving for Airfields and Other Heavy Duty Pavements
Unified Facilities Guide Specification part 32 13 14.13 is the guide specification for airfield concrete pavement construction. In this lesson, the attendees will gain an understanding of the requirements and intent of the Tri-Services airfield concrete pavement specification. Discussion will center around agency requirements for producing high quality, durable pavement and why some stringent requirements are necessary. Topics will include aggregate and other material requirements, tolerances, and expectations of the contractor performing the work. Planned updates to 32 13 14.13 will also be discussed.

4:00 PM – 4:55 PM – CC-10, Taking Airfield Concrete Pavement Design to 40 Years and Beyond
The FAA is preparing to construct new concrete pavement test sections at the National Airport Pavement Test Facility (NAPTF) to evaluate long-term pavement performance under simulated aircraft traffic. This presentation will highlight the objectives and test sections for Construction Cycle 10 and how the resulting data will improve FAA concrete pavement fatigue and failure models to support the design of airfield pavements with service lives of 40 years and beyond.

4:55 PM – 5:00 PM – Day One Wrap-Up and Q&A

5:30 PM – 7:00 PM – Welcome Reception
Thank you to our sponsors:

7:30 AM – 8:00 AM – Breakfast

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM – Developing a Proper Project Specification Using UFGS and FAA Guide Specifications
A great construction project starts with a great project specification. Learn how to transform FAA and UFGS guide specifications into clear, project-specific requirements while staying within agency rules and allowable tailoring provisions. The session will focus on practical strategies for avoiding ambiguity and setting the project team up for success before construction begins.

9:00 AM – 9:45 AM – Unique Challenges Contractors Face with Airfield Paving Panel
Airfield paving demands a level of coordination and process control that is different from conventional highway and roadway construction. this session will explore real-world challenges - from site access, FOD control, personnel and material movement, and air traffic control coordination to maintaining tight construction tolerances - and offer practical approaches for managing them from planning through project closeout. The panel will bring together contractors experienced with airfield projects for both commercial and military airfields to talk about their experiences and lessons learned.

9:45 AM – 10:00 AM – BREAK

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM – Mix Design Development Best Practices
Developing an airfield concrete mixture requires more than meeting strength, slump, and air-content requirements. The mixture must also provide long-term durability and remain workable with the contractor's production and slipform paving equipment. This presentation will discuss current mixture-design challenges, best practices for translating laboratory proportions into consistent field production, and ongoing industry work to improve how airfield concrete mixtures are developed and evaluated. Participants will also get a preview of next generation mix design tools and testing being developed through ACPTP research.

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Concrete Paver Setup
Precision paving starts with a properly set-up machine. Learn the fundamentals of slipform paver setup and calibration, with special attention to the challenges of thick airfield pavements and tight construction tolerances. The session will also cover practical techniques for monitoring and adjusting during production.

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM – LUNCH
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1:00 PM – 1:45 PM – Development of Project Submittals for Military Airfields to Meet UFGS 32 13 14.13
Military airfield projects require detailed submittals, and incomplete or improperly formatted documentation can quickly lead to rejection and resubmittal. This session will provide practical guidance for preparing key UFGS submittals - including proportioning studies and paving lot reports - with the goal of improving quality, compliance, and project efficiency.

1:45 PM – 2:45 PM – Best Practices in Finishing Airfield Concrete Pavement
Finishing can make or break the long-term durability of an airfield concrete pavement. THis session will tackle one of the industry's most challenging questions: how much finishing is enough? Participants will learn best practices for achieving the required surface without overworking the concrete and increasing the risk of weakened surfaces and early-age distress. The session will also provide an update on the ACI pavement-finishing certification being developed to replace the current flatwork finishing certification requirement in UFGS 32 13 14.13.

2:45 PM – 3:00 PM – BREAK

3:00 PM – 3:30 PM – Airport Concrete Pavement Technology Program (ACPTP)
What's next for airfield concrete pavement technology? Dr. Taylor will provide an update on the industry-led, FAA-funded ACPTP research program and highlight the projects currently underway to address important challenges and opportunities facing the airfield pavement community.

3:30 PM – 4:00 PM – ACPTP Recently Completed Projects and Updates on ASR and PEM Research
Turn research into practice. This session will highlight recently completed ACPTP projects and the technology products now becoming available to the industry. Dr. Taylor will also discuss follow-on research focused on Performance Engineered Mixtures (PEM) and alkali-silica reaction (ASR) and what these efforts could mean for the future airfield pavement practice.

4:00 PM – 4:55 PM – ACPTP Project 2023-8: Concrete Airfield Paving Continuity
Consistency is critical to efficient airfield paving - but real projects rarely proceed without interruptions. This presentation will explore how changes in paver speed and paving stoppages affect construction and will share early research findings aimed at helping owners, engineers, and contractors make better decisions when disruptions occur. Initial results from field test sections at Charlotte International Airport will be featured.

4:55 PM – 5:00 PM – Day Two Wrap-Up and Q&A

7:30 AM – 8:00 AM – Breakfast

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM – Acceptance of Work Using FAA General Provisions
Acceptance is where design and construction requirements ultimately come together. This session will clarify the Resident Project Representative's role as the final authority for interpreting plans and specifications and applying Section 50 of the FAA General Provisions. Participants will gain a clearer understanding of acceptance responsibilities, with updates to Section 50 and FAA AC 150/5370-12 included.

9:00 AM – 9:45 AM – Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport Capital Programs
Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport will provide a presentation on its upcoming capital programs, with a focus on airfield concrete paving opportunities. This session will provide an opportunity for attendees to discuss future programs that may interest them.

9:45 AM – 10:00 AM – BREAK

10:00 AM – 10:45 AM – Alternate Delivery Roundtable
Recent regulatory changes in FAA and DoW reauthorizations have expanded opportunities to use alternate delivery methods for complex airfield infrastructure programs using federal funds. Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR), also sometimes called Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC), is becoming a common alternate delivery method for airport owners. This roundtable will include representatives from airport management, engineering firms, and contractors who will discuss topics such as why airports choose specific delivery methods, how the methods are integrated into the design process, and how contractors prepare for and execute alternate delivery projects.

10:45 AM – 11:45 AM – Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport Taxiway U Construction Overview
Taxiway U is being constructed to bridge the north and south airfields on the west end of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, allowing for more efficient aircraft flow and streamlined airfield operations. This complex project includes major road and utility relocations, modifications to existing airport facilities, and other major infrastructure upgrades. This presentation will provide an overview of the project from representatives of the airport, engineer, and contractor and discuss challenges and successes of the project. The presentation will be followed by a tour of the project after lunch.

11:45 AM – 12:00 PM – Workshop Wrap-Up and Final Q&A

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM – LUNCH

1:00 PM – 5:00 PM – Tour of PHX Taxiway U Project