The Surat Airport authorities have decided to strengthen its airstrip with steel slag in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) recommendations and Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR).
The basic strip at a code C airport must be 140 metres wide, well graded, and have a minimum 15 percent California Bearing Ratio (CBR) — subgrade soil strength — at a depth of 150 millimetres from the top ground level, according to ICAO. Surat Airport’s runway is the size recommended by ICAO, CAR, and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). However, as the area consists of highly expansive soil with very low CBR, ground improvement of the basic strip is required to meet the recommended strength criteria.
The basic air-strip will be stabilised in order to raise the CBR value to the required level, ensuring the safety of an aircraft in emergency situations if it steers off the runway. The desired strength at 150 mm below ground level will assist the disoriented aircraft in coming to a safe stop without causing major damage.
Important to note here is that steel slag road has been constructed at Hazira, Surat in collaboration with the Ministry of Steel on the instructions of the Niti Aayog.
Also Read: Gujarat Gets India’s First Steel Road
