Asset Management of Gravel Airstrips in the Yukon Canada

The Yukon Department of Highways and Public Works operates a series of gravel airstrips in isolated parts of the Yukon. In addition to the primary function of providing services to general aviation, these isolated airstrips support medical emergency evacuations and act as temporary bases for forest fire fighting aircraft and equipment. The Department has well-established bridge inspection/management, pavement and bituminous surface treatment management systems for its highway network and a pavement management system for its major airports. Lacking, however, was an inspection and rating system for its gravel airstrips. This paper describes the establishment of a rating system for these low volume gravel airstrips. It identifies the distresses that should be monitored during an annual inspection. A number of composite indices were developed similar to the Pavement Condition Index (PCI) used for pavement management, for use with the gravel airstrips. Due to the variation of gravel surfaces depending on weather and the last gravel blading, a general condition index based on the overall visual observation of the airstrip was judged to be more effective than composite indices based on individual distresses. The major feature of the management system for these airstrips is the identification of maintenance items required for the operation and preservation of the airstrip and the identification of the time frame required for major capital investments (gravel resurfacing).

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• Authors:
  • MacLeod, Donaldson R
  • Hidinger, Wally
• Conference:
  • Seventh International Conference on Managing Pavement Assets
  • Location: Calgary Alberta, Canada
  • Date: 2008-6-23 to 2008-6-28
• Publication Date: 2008

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Maps; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 12p
• Monograph Title: 7th International Conference on Managing Pavement Assets, June 23-28, 2008, Calgary, Alberta, Canada: "Preserving What We Have, Investing in the Future, and Finding the Balance"

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Airstrips; Gravel roads; Inspection; Maintenance management
• Geographic Terms: Yukon Territory
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Aviation; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Pavements; I10: Economics and Administration; I60: Maintenance;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01447748
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 28 2012 3:30PM