Airport Runway Rehabilitation Project Management Course

Course Introduction

The Airport Runway Rehabilitation Project Management Course provides participants with the knowledge and practical skills required to plan, coordinate, execute, monitor, and successfully complete runway rehabilitation projects within operational airport environments. Runway rehabilitation is a specialised infrastructure undertaking that requires careful coordination of pavement engineering, construction methodology, airside safety, aviation operations, regulatory compliance, environmental protection, and project controls. Unlike conventional road rehabilitation, runway works must satisfy demanding requirements for pavement strength, surface friction, smoothness, drainage, lighting, and operational reliability while minimising disruption to aircraft movements. This course explores the complete project lifecycle, from condition assessment and feasibility studies through design development, procurement, construction, testing, and operational handover, equipping participants to manage complex rehabilitation programmes safely, efficiently, and within approved budgets and schedules.

Effective runway rehabilitation begins with a reliable understanding of existing pavement conditions, structural capacity, surface deterioration, and the operational requirements of the airport. The course examines runway inspections, pavement condition surveys, distress mapping, friction testing, skid resistance assessment, pavement deflection testing, drainage inspections, and evaluation of previous maintenance records. Participants learn how engineers and project managers use investigation results to identify cracking, rutting, joint deterioration, surface defects, foreign object debris risks, and structural deficiencies that may affect aircraft safety. The programme also considers the selection of rehabilitation treatments, including localised repairs, pavement overlays, milling and resurfacing, concrete slab replacement, joint rehabilitation, and reconstruction of severely deteriorated sections. Emphasis is placed on aligning technical recommendations with pavement design requirements, aircraft loading, forecast traffic demand, lifecycle costs, and the operational priorities of the airport.

A major focus of the course is the planning and management of runway construction activities under stringent airside access, scheduling, and operational constraints. Participants examine runway closure strategies, phased rehabilitation, night-shift construction, temporary work zones, equipment mobilisation, material delivery, and coordination with airport operations, air traffic services, airlines, ground handlers, and maintenance teams. The course addresses the development of detailed work programmes that account for asphalt production, concrete placement, curing periods, pavement cooling, survey activities, lighting-system interfaces, weather conditions, and mandatory inspections before reopening. Participants explore critical path scheduling, resource allocation, production forecasting, contingency planning, and recovery strategies for delays. Special attention is given to managing restricted work windows, temporary runway availability, overlapping airside activities, and unexpected pavement deterioration without compromising safety, quality, or the reliability of airport operations.

Airside safety and regulatory compliance are fundamental to every runway rehabilitation project. Construction activities near aircraft operating areas introduce hazards involving vehicle incursions, unauthorised access, foreign object debris, equipment movement, temporary obstacles, excavation, dust, lighting deficiencies, and inadequate separation between work zones and operational surfaces. This course examines the integration of construction safety plans with airport-specific operating procedures, airside driving requirements, access control, work permits, temporary markings, lighting arrangements, and emergency response protocols. Participants also consider the importance of NOTAM coordination, runway closure notifications, construction hazard assessments, inspections, and formal handover procedures in accordance with applicable aviation authority requirements. The programme highlights the need to coordinate with airport safeguarding personnel and relevant aviation stakeholders so that construction activities, temporary conditions, and operational restrictions are communicated accurately and managed through controlled approval processes.

Strong project controls and disciplined commercial management are essential to delivering runway rehabilitation projects within their approved cost, scope, and time parameters. The course explores the preparation of work breakdown structures, baseline schedules, cost estimates, bills of quantities, procurement plans, risk registers, quality plans, and progress reporting systems tailored to airport pavement projects. Participants examine cost drivers such as asphalt and concrete materials, pavement removal, disposal, specialist equipment, lighting-system modifications, drainage works, night operations, traffic management, testing, and mobilisation. The programme also addresses contract administration, change control, payment certification, claims prevention, extension-of-time assessments, and management of unforeseen subsurface or pavement conditions. Participants learn how to establish meaningful performance indicators, track physical progress, evaluate productivity, forecast final costs, and implement corrective measures when project performance deviates from the baseline. Particular emphasis is placed on maintaining reliable records and transparent communication among the client, consultant, contractor, airport operator, and other stakeholders.

Quality assurance, environmental management, and operational readiness are equally important to successful runway rehabilitation. Participants explore the development of inspection and test plans, material approval procedures, asphalt mix verification, concrete strength testing, compaction testing, pavement level surveys, surface texture assessment, friction testing, and verification of drainage performance. The course considers how to manage quality risks associated with temperature control, segregation, compaction, curing, construction joints, pavement tolerances, and the integration of runway lighting and associated electrical systems. Environmental topics include construction dust, noise, fuel and chemical spills, waste management, recycled pavement materials, carbon emissions, and responsible use of construction resources. The programme concludes with commissioning, defect management, as-built documentation, operational inspections, and formal runway reopening procedures. Emerging practices such as digital pavement assessment, drone-supported surveys where authorised, predictive maintenance analytics, and lower-carbon rehabilitation technologies are also considered, enabling participants to improve decision-making and support the long-term resilience of airport infrastructure.

Duration

5 days

Who Should Attend

• Airport project managers responsible for planning, coordinating, and delivering runway rehabilitation, resurfacing, pavement reconstruction, and airside infrastructure improvement projects.

• Civil engineers and pavement engineers involved in runway condition assessments, pavement design, rehabilitation strategy selection, construction supervision, and technical verification.

• Airport engineering and infrastructure managers responsible for maintaining runway serviceability, managing capital improvement programmes, and coordinating infrastructure works with airport operations.

• Construction managers, site engineers, and resident engineers supervising runway milling, asphalt resurfacing, concrete pavement repairs, drainage improvements, and associated airside construction activities.

• Project planners and project controls specialists responsible for baseline scheduling, runway closure planning, resource loading, progress monitoring, delay analysis, and schedule recovery.

• Quantity surveyors, cost engineers, commercial managers, and contract administrators involved in cost estimation, procurement, variations, payment certification, claims management, and financial reporting.

• Airport operations personnel and airside safety managers who coordinate construction access, operational restrictions, runway closures, safety inspections, and reopening approvals.

• Quality assurance and quality control professionals responsible for pavement material testing, inspection and test plans, workmanship verification, non-conformance management, and construction acceptance.

• Aviation safety and compliance specialists involved in construction risk assessments, runway incursion prevention, airside access control, temporary obstacle management, and operational safety coordination.

• Procurement and supply chain professionals responsible for sourcing asphalt, concrete, pavement repair materials, lighting components, construction equipment, and specialist rehabilitation contractors.

• Electrical engineers and airfield lighting specialists involved in the rehabilitation, protection, testing, and reinstatement of runway lighting, electrical circuits, and associated airport systems.

• Environmental officers and sustainability professionals responsible for managing construction waste, emissions, noise, dust, spill prevention, recycled materials, and environmental compliance.

• Airport consultants, design engineers, and technical advisers undertaking pavement condition assessments, rehabilitation feasibility studies, engineering reviews, constructability assessments, and project implementation support.

• Government aviation officials, airport authorities, public infrastructure agencies, and asset owners responsible for capital project oversight, procurement governance, regulatory compliance, and infrastructure investment decisions.

• Contractors, specialist pavement rehabilitation teams, and infrastructure professionals seeking to strengthen their capabilities in airport-specific construction planning, airside safety, quality management, and project delivery.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Develop integrated project management plans for airport runway rehabilitation that align engineering requirements, operational restrictions, safety obligations, stakeholder responsibilities, quality standards, commercial objectives, and delivery milestones.

• Interpret runway pavement condition assessments, distress surveys, friction measurements, structural evaluations, and drainage inspections to identify rehabilitation priorities and support evidence-based engineering decisions.

• Evaluate alternative rehabilitation methods, including asphalt overlays, milling and resurfacing, localised pavement repairs, concrete slab replacement, joint rehabilitation, and full-depth reconstruction.

• Prepare realistic construction schedules that incorporate runway closure windows, night operations, material delivery, production rates, curing requirements, inspections, weather allowances, and reopening deadlines.

• Apply airport-specific safety management principles to construction planning, including work-zone separation, airside access control, foreign object debris prevention, temporary markings, obstacle management, and emergency coordination.

• Establish cost estimates, budgets, procurement strategies, cash flow forecasts, and commercial controls that account for pavement works, specialist equipment, testing, lighting interfaces, and unforeseen conditions.

• Implement quality assurance systems covering material approvals, asphalt and concrete testing, compaction, surface tolerances, pavement friction, drainage performance, and acceptance criteria.

• Manage coordination among airport operators, air traffic services, contractors, consultants, airlines, regulators, and other stakeholders to maintain effective communication and controlled operational interfaces.

• Monitor project performance through schedule analysis, productivity measurement, cost forecasting, risk reviews, change control, and progress reporting to support timely corrective action.

• Plan commissioning, final inspections, defect resolution, as-built documentation, regulatory coordination, and formal operational handover to support safe and reliable runway reopening.

Comprehensive Course Outline

Module 1: Fundamentals of Airport Runway Rehabilitation Project Management

• Overview of airport runway systems, pavement functions, airfield infrastructure interfaces, aircraft operating requirements, and the strategic importance of runway availability.

• Understanding the runway rehabilitation project lifecycle, from needs identification and feasibility studies to design, procurement, construction, acceptance, and maintenance planning.

• Identification of project scope, technical requirements, stakeholder expectations, budget limitations, operational constraints, contractual obligations, and measurable delivery objectives.

• Establishment of project governance structures, reporting lines, approval procedures, communication protocols, decision-making responsibilities, and multidisciplinary coordination arrangements.

Module 2: Runway Pavement Condition Assessment and Rehabilitation Strategy

• Conducting pavement inspections and condition surveys to identify cracking, rutting, ravelling, surface deterioration, joint failures, spalling, and other runway pavement defects.

• Evaluating pavement structural capacity using appropriate investigation and testing methods, including pavement deflection measurements, core sampling, and subsurface assessment where required.

• Assessing runway surface friction, texture, smoothness, drainage, rubber deposits, foreign object debris exposure, and other characteristics affecting aircraft operating safety.

• Selecting rehabilitation treatments based on pavement condition, aircraft loading, remaining service life, traffic forecasts, lifecycle costs, construction constraints, and applicable engineering criteria.

Module 3: Runway Rehabilitation Design and Engineering Coordination

• Reviewing pavement rehabilitation designs, overlay requirements, milling depths, pavement layer specifications, concrete repair details, and transitions between existing and rehabilitated surfaces.

• Coordinating geotechnical investigations, drainage improvements, pavement geometry, grading, shoulders, taxiway connections, and other infrastructure interfaces within the project scope.

• Planning the protection, adjustment, replacement, and reinstatement of runway lighting systems, electrical ducts, signs, drainage structures, and associated airfield equipment.

• Conducting design reviews, constructability assessments, technical submittal checks, design change evaluations, and multidisciplinary interface reviews before construction approval.

Module 4: Runway Closure Planning and Airside Construction Logistics

• Developing runway closure strategies that consider aircraft demand, operational capacity, construction duration, alternate runway availability, and the airport's approved operating arrangements.

• Planning construction access, vehicle routing, equipment mobilisation, temporary work zones, material delivery, waste removal, and secure segregation of operational and construction areas.

• Coordinating runway availability, night-shift work windows, operational briefings, NOTAM processes, air traffic services, airport operations, and required safety approvals.

• Establishing contingency arrangements for weather disruptions, equipment breakdowns, unexpected pavement defects, late material deliveries, and activities extending beyond planned work windows.

Module 5: Construction Scheduling, Resource Planning, and Productivity Control

• Preparing work breakdown structures, construction sequencing plans, critical path schedules, resource-loaded programmes, milestones, and baseline schedules for runway rehabilitation.

• Estimating production rates for pavement milling, removal, material hauling, asphalt paving, concrete placement, compaction, joint treatment, and related construction operations.

• Coordinating labour, plant, paving equipment, testing teams, material supply, specialist subcontractors, and inspection resources within restricted airside working periods.

• Applying progress measurement, shift reporting, productivity analysis, look-ahead planning, schedule variance assessment, and recovery strategies to protect critical runway reopening dates.

Module 6: Cost Estimation, Procurement, and Commercial Project Management

• Developing project cost estimates and bills of quantities covering pavement investigation, demolition, disposal, material supply, resurfacing, concrete repairs, drainage, lighting, and testing.

• Establishing budgets, cash flow forecasts, cost-loaded programmes, risk allowances, escalation assumptions, and financial reporting procedures for airport infrastructure projects.

• Planning procurement of asphalt mixtures, concrete, pavement repair products, lighting components, testing services, specialist equipment, and construction subcontract packages.

• Administering contracts, variations, payment applications, change orders, claims, delay assessments, unforeseen-condition records, and final account preparation.

Module 7: Airside Safety, Aviation Compliance, and Risk Management

• Identifying runway rehabilitation hazards associated with aircraft movements, vehicle incursions, foreign object debris, temporary obstacles, excavations, construction equipment, and restricted access.

• Developing construction safety plans that integrate airside driving controls, access permits, work-zone boundaries, temporary markings, lighting arrangements, and site security measures.

• Coordinating operational risk assessments, safety briefings, incident reporting, emergency response arrangements, inspection routines, and communication with airport safety personnel.

• Applying relevant airport procedures and applicable aviation authority requirements to construction approvals, NOTAM coordination, runway inspections, operational readiness, and reopening decisions.

Module 8: Quality Assurance, Materials Testing, and Construction Acceptance

• Developing inspection and test plans, material approval procedures, quality records, hold points, witness points, and acceptance requirements for runway rehabilitation works.

• Verifying asphalt mix properties, laying temperatures, compaction, thickness, concrete strength, joint quality, pavement levels, surface texture, and construction tolerances.

• Managing quality issues involving segregation, inadequate compaction, surface irregularities, premature cracking, defective joints, curing deficiencies, and non-compliant materials.

• Coordinating independent testing, non-conformance reporting, corrective action, final pavement inspections, friction assessment, drainage verification, and formal construction acceptance.

Module 9: Environmental Management, Stakeholder Coordination, and Digital Project Controls

• Implementing environmental management measures for dust, noise, construction waste, fuel and chemical spills, emissions, material recycling, and responsible resource consumption.

• Coordinating airport operators, airlines, air traffic services, contractors, consultants, regulators, emergency services, and affected stakeholders throughout project implementation.

• Using digital schedules, common data environments, progress dashboards, mobile inspection records, geospatial information, and authorised survey technologies to strengthen project visibility.

• Applying risk registers, early-warning systems, change control, cost and schedule forecasting, performance indicators, lessons learned, and management reporting to support informed decisions.

Module 10: Commissioning, Runway Reopening, and Sustainable Asset Management

• Planning final inspections, defect correction, pavement condition verification, lighting-system testing, drainage checks, documentation reviews, and operational readiness assessments.

• Coordinating runway reopening approvals, NOTAM cancellation or amendment, handover documentation, airside clearance, and communication with relevant airport operational stakeholders.

• Establishing as-built records, asset information, maintenance recommendations, warranty registers, defect liability arrangements, and post-completion performance monitoring procedures.

• Evaluating emerging practices such as recycled pavement materials, lower-carbon asphalt, digital pavement assessment, predictive maintenance analytics, and data-driven rehabilitation planning.

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: training@upskilldevelopment.com Tel: +254 721 331 808

Training Venue 

The training will be held at our Upskill Training Centre. We also offer training for a group (at a discount of 10% to 50%) at requested location all over the world. The Onsite course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, buffet lunch, airport transfers, Upskill gift package, and guided tour.

Visa application, travel expenses, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Upskill certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: training@upskilldevelopment.com, +254 721 331 808

Terms of Payment:

Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 3 working days before commencement of the training so as to enable us to prepare better.