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-   -   Airplane burnouts, not exactly, but cleaning rubber off runways (http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?t=1181387)

masraum 08-10-2025 05:03 AM

Airplane burnouts, not exactly, but cleaning rubber off runways
 
This is something that I've never heard about. It's fairly obvious based on the skid marks on the runways, but very interesting.

According to the video, each tire leaves ~1.5# of rubber on the runway at each landing. On average a plane has ~8 tires, so each landing deposits ~12# per landing. An Airbus A380 has 22 tires so leaves over 30# of rubber per landing. According to the video, JFK airport gets ~13,000# of rubber deposited every day.

<iframe width="720" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aYNtFSUUiyY" title="Why They Clean Rubber from Airport Runways" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

A930Rocket 08-10-2025 05:22 AM

I read an article recently about this. I had no idea that much rubber was being laid down by the airplanes.

masraum 08-10-2025 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A930Rocket (Post 12512458)
I read an article recently about this. I had no idea that much rubber was being laid down by the airplanes.

Right, that's A LOT of rubber!

3rd_gear_Ted 08-10-2025 07:12 AM

The Indiana Jones ride @ Disneyland has to vacuum the tracks every night due to tire wear.

berettafan 08-10-2025 07:22 AM

I know a guy in this business. said his contracting company cleaned runways. didn't realize what he meant until now!

john70t 08-10-2025 07:37 AM

There are methods (not used) available to spin up the tires such as motors and fans.

The B-52 is one of the few that turn it's wheels into the path. Extra weight and engineering.
Probably makes a significant difference.

Zeke 08-10-2025 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john70t (Post 12512523)
There are methods (not used) available to spin up the tires such as motors and fans.

The B-52 is one of the few that turn it's wheels into the path. Extra weight and engineering.
Probably makes a significant difference.

For both the plane and the runway.

Steve Carlton 08-10-2025 09:07 AM

I sold an XC70 to a company that measures rubber residue on runways. They took it to Sweden to have an arm with a wheel on the end of it that would lower the wheel to the pavement to measure the friction. Then they painted it yellow and sold it to SFO. I had a picture of it and I posted it, but I can't find it. It would be a good time for the yellow car thread, too.

rockfan4 08-10-2025 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton (Post 12512561)
I sold an XC70 to a company that measures rubber residue on runways. They took it to Sweden to have an arm with a wheel on the end of it that would lower the wheel to the pavement to measure the friction. Then they painted it yellow and sold it to SFO. I had a picture of it and I posted it, but I can't find it. It would be a good time for the yellow car thread, too.

There was a SAAB on Bring a Trailer back in December. It sold for $7695. Looks like it was used at Salt Lake City.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2004-saab-9-5-5/

Steve Carlton 08-10-2025 12:46 PM

Looks like the same deal. I can't believe I can't search out the XC70 photo.

ted 08-10-2025 01:41 PM

This and they have a runway surface test to determine aircraft braking effectiveness before and after the rubber removal.
The commercial airport I worked at had only one runway was too busy during the day so so had to do it middle of the night.
It builds up on both ends of the runway as wind and weather minimums required landing either direction.


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