EMA Runway Closures – 2024-2025
- Feb 8
- 4 min read
Updated: Feb 10
Sector: Aviation
Location: East Midlands Airport (EMA).
Client: Manchester Airport Group (MAG).
Value: £1,472,396
Duration: December 2024 to February 2025.
Scope:
Traffic Management.
Localised asphalt patching to runway.
Removal and replacement of centre-line Airfield Ground Lights (AGLs).
Over-banding.
Refreshing of line-markings.
Stabilisation and replacement of edge lights.
Rubber removal.
Maxi-flex works.
Air Traffic Control (ATC) pit and duct surveys.
Summary: Allied Infrastructure were appointed to the MAG “Small & Medium” Framework in 2018, and have delivered the annual “Runway Maintenance” programme at EMA over the last 8 years. This programme delivers crucial repairs to the main runway, ensuring it is in a suitable condition for the year ahead. Historically, we have delivered these works over meticulously planned and managed night-shift possessions, to minimise disruption to day-time airport operations.
Over the last 7 years, the scope of works has incrementally increased, requiring the management of progressively greater volumes of activity and personnel each shift. In addition to this, EMA have also sought to integrate works by contractors in recent years – in order to maximise the value of the closures. To help ensure this is effectively co-ordinated, Allied Infrastructure have been asked to develop and implement the over-arching Traffic Management (TM), logistics and security plans for both the airside and landside plant/vehicle movements required for the closures.
Having delivered these works for a number of years, we have established a robust and repeatable pre-construction process, which enables all parties to collaborate effectively. We commence the process with a joint visual inspection of the runway alongside the client and their designer (AECOM), which enables the designer to produce drawings and a defect report. We provide feedback on the report based on our proposed methodology, ensuring the scope is optimised for constructability and value-for-money. We work with the client to refine this strategy, in order to maximise the works which can be carried out within their budget. Finally, we attend a Pre-Start Meeting, to confirm the final arrangements for construction.
While carrying out this collaborative planning process for the 2024/25 runway closures, the client’s team identified that it may be possible to secure day-time closures of the airfield, due to a planned reduction in flight schedules over this period. Both parties agreed this would offer benefits in terms of operational delivery, and MAG were ultimately able to secure approval for day-time. We worked with our long-term supply chain for EMA to meticulously plan the works based on this optimised window.
Our experienced team successfully delivered the works over 9 Wednesday day-shift closures, commencing on the 4th of December, and concluding on the 26th of February. MAG secured approval to temporarily de-regulate the airfield for each shift, from 10.00AM-18.00PM. The de-regulation of the airfield helped to significantly streamline access/egress requirements, as it was not necessary for each vehicle to be manually checked by Security. However, it still necessary for personnel to hold the appropriate security clearance, and to sign-in at the satellite Security office situated the runway entrance, ensuring control was retained. We worked with our supply chain to ensure that all personnel had completed the online EMA safety induction, and to stagger vehicle entries to site (starting at 07:00AM). This helped reduce pressure on the satellite Security office, and avoided any vehicle “bottlenecks”. At 10:00AM each closure, we managed the flow of vehicles on to the runway, and escorted the various teams to their working areas. Our TM contractor Dutton established cones and signage to close off access points to the runway. Our works took place from 10:00AM-17:00PM each day. Typically, construction activity ceased at 16:00, with 16:00-17:00 used for contractor FOD sweeps and clearance, and 17:00 used for final checks and approvals by the client’s Operations team.
During each possession, we used regular, pre-agreed hold points and a shared WhatsApp group to convey progress to MAG’s team. At these stages, activities such as planing out were temporarily suspended, until both parties had agreed there was sufficient time left in the shift to restore the runway for safe operation. This helped maintain the tight management of each shift, and the ability to halt operations if required.
From 14:00PM each shift, planing activities were completed, and the operational focus shifted to handback - including completion of all surfacing, re-installation of AGLs and line-markings, and FOD clearance. Due to the 3KM length of the runway and the availability of natural light, it was not pragmatic to leave FOD checks until works were completed. As such, we focussed on separating areas where works had been completed, from areas where activities were ongoing. This enabled us to progressively check and clear completed works areas, ensuring they were “sterile”. This staggered approach helped to reduce pressure on the final FOD checks, before full-length beam-sweeping of the runway was carried out prior to handback.
The decision to carry out the works over days generated several significant benefits:
Value-for-money: The daylight working conditions and extended working window improved the efficiency of our operations. Daytime pay-rates also generated cost savings.
Co-ordination: A greater proportion of MAG’s personnel were during days. Improved access to key personnel from different departments streamlined the co-ordination of the works.
Safety and FOD prevention: The improved visibility helped to de-risk people/ plant interfaces. In addition, the daylight conditions allowed for a “clean as you go” approach to FOD prevention, reducing the timescale required for the pre-handover FOD sweep.
We delivered the full scope of works within the programmed shifts, and within MAG’s budget. The client’s team were highly satisfied with the optimised approach.
“A big thank you [to] Asset Development, Capital Delivery , the wider EMA and MAG team, and our contractors in delivering an outstanding set of closures. Your message clearly sets out the huge amount of work which has been achieved in those closure windows, but I know that none of that could have happened without all the dedicated time spent meticulously designing and planning the works for many months in advance. A really great job everyone.” Brian McCoubrey - Asset Development Director, EMA |
“Following the conclusion of the project, we have successfully removed all runway defects identified for remediation. This marks a significant milestone, as we now enter the summer readiness plan with a reasonably defect-free runway. The leadership team will no doubt join [me] in congratulating James, Mark, and our contractors on delivering an excellent set of closures. The Principal Contractor has already been informed of the project’s success, and we look forward to the next five years of programmed works under the MAG Framework.” Guy Slack - Programme Delivery Manager, MAG Capital Delivery |
