The Research, Engineering, and Development Advisory Committee (REDAC) Airport Subcommittee meeting was held the week of September 6, 2021. The REDAC meets twice a year, in the fall and in the spring. 2021’s spring meeting was in March. Gary Mitchell, Chief of Engineering and Construction-ACPA, and Jim Mack, Director, Market Development-CEMEX, represented the concrete pavement industry on the standing advisory committee.
The Airport’s Subcommittee provides advice and recommendations to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on its airport technology research and development program.
REDAC Mission Statement: “Supports the development of the FAA’s research
and development (R&D) portfolio through strategic planning, budget formulation,
program execution, and program evaluation”
The advice and recommendations provided by the Subcommittee address:
• both near- and mid-term priorities
• areas for new research
• areas to increase, decrease, or cancel investment
• areas where leveraging is possible
• areas where partnerships are possible
During the fall meeting, the Committee provides advice on how the FAA should invest its Research and Development (R&D) funding in future portfolio development processes. The Committee provides guidance for the FY+3 R&D portfolio. There are 5 standing subcommittees that support the REDAC by conducting reviews in the summer and winter. During the summer, the subcommittees work with the sponsors and performers to conduct detailed program reviews. During the winter, the subcommittees conduct detailed reviews of the proposed R&D portfolios. The reviews are for the following research areas:
• Aircraft Safety
• NAS Operations
• Environment and Energy
• Airports
• Human Factors
The FAA Test Center is researching:
– Advanced Paving Materials
– Recyclable Pavement Materials
– Pavement Design & Evaluation
– Software Program Development & Support
– Extended Airport Pavement Life
– Nondestructive Testing Technology
Mitchell and Mack provided insight from the concrete pavement industry’s perspective on various pavement-related research topics. They recommended research on concrete pavement’s role in sustainability and resiliency, which will be considered in future updates to the FAA design procedure.
Mitchell said, “We are pleased to see the FAA considering how concrete pavement may play a role in reducing the industry’s carbon footprint and improving an airport’s resiliency.”
Mack added, “I couldn’t agree with Gary more. One of the key moments during this discussion came when it was recognized that while resilience and sustainability are inter-related, they are different and therefore need to be addressed differently in future pavement design.”
For more information on REDAC, please go to the FAA website REDAC web page: www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/rulemaking/committees/documents/index.cfm/committee/browse/committeeid/237