Military Airport Research Articles

Historical usage of aqueous film forming foam: A case study of the widespread distribution of perfluoroalkyl acids from a military airport to groundwater, lakes, soils and fish

Historical usage of aqueous film forming foams (AFFFs) at military airports is a potential source of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) to the nearby environment. In this study, the distribution of perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in soil, groundwater, surface water, tap water well, and fish muscle was investigated at a closed down military airfield (F18) and its surroundings in Stockholm, Sweden. The presence of PFOS at AFFF training sites was inventoried.One major finding of the study is that a former airfield, abandoned since 1994, may still be a point source of PFAAs to nearby recipients. PFOS and PFOA were ubiquitous in the soil samples at former AFFF training sites with concentrations ranging from 2.18 to 8520ngg−1 dry weight and <0.12–287ngg−1 dry weight respectively. The sum of PFAAs in the groundwater and surface waters ranged from 738 to 51000ngL−1 and <MDL to 79.0ngL−1, respectively. PFOS in European perch ranged from 76.5 to 370ngg−1wet weight muscle tissue which is among the highest previously reported worldwide. Our results provide evidence that the historical use of AFFF at the site have contaminated an aquifer (7500 m3d−1), that will require constant PFAA purification before being used for drinking water production. Despite the fact that the water turnover time in the investigated recipients (of 4–6months) suggest a depletion of PFAA-contaminants over a quarter of a decade, abandoned airfields may still pose an environmental and human health concern.

Airports as a factor of regional development on the example of the Szymany Airport

Abstract The Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodship is a NUTS II region, which belongs to the least developed regions of Poland and the EU. One of the reasons of its underdevelopment is poor transport accessibility, which limits the level of competitiveness and investment attractiveness. For this reason the voivodship authorities made a decision to build a regional airport by modernising the military airport in Szymany near Szczytno. The investment, which is co-financed by the European Funds, is aimed to reduce the level of peripherality of the region, increase its competitiveness and, as a consequence, raise the socio-economic development level. This paper aims to answer three questions. The first one concerns the extent to which the existence of a regional airport is a factor stimulating socio-economic development of regions, including peripheral ones. The second one is related to the question whether the location of the planned airport is justified by economic factors, or, to put in another way, whether the airport will bring profits in the long run. The last question, related to the previous ones, is whether the realisation of the investment in the planned form will help to reduce the degree of peripherality of the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodship and thus accelerate its socio-economic development.

Detection and Assessment Methods for the Planeness of Planes' Asphalt Road Runway

To guarantee the safe use of road runway for planes (hereafter referred to as road runway), based on the concept of planeness, not only three meters' straight edge, continuous planeness measuring equipment, vehicular jolt-integrator and evaluation variables mean square error were analyzed, but also conducted a comparative analysis to the roughness evaluation methods of functional road pavement, civil airports and military airports. Combining with the usage condition of ideograph in China, it offered an evaluation method for the asphalt pavement's roughness of road runway, which can provide references for the usage management of road runway.

Noise mitigation action plan of Pisa civil and military airport and its effects on people exposure

The “Galileo Galilei” airport is a civil and military airport quite close to central Pisa. Although the airport brings benefits in terms of tourism and different types of income, the air traffic growth exacerbates the exposition to aircraft noise. This could significantly affect public health. To this day, a small number of studies takes into account the standard indicators of Europe by considering noise emission data for military aircrafts. We estimated the noise impact produced by the airport and we evaluated the related exposed population by using the Integrated Noise Model (INM). The noise power levels of both commercial and military flights have been considered as an input to the model. Predicted levels were validated by means of a noise-monitoring network. A new tracking system (AirNav Radar) that captures Automatic Identification System (AIS) signals emitted by each aircraft has been used to emulate takeoff and landing procedures. This improves the accuracy of the input to the model. We simulated noise maps for present and future scenarios, including those following the application of noise reduction measures. For each situation, we also estimated the exposure of the population and the percentages of highly annoyed and highly sleep disturbed people. We show the utility of AIS data and their specific elaboration to draw up noise abatement measures in order to reduce the noise impact on population and allow the airport development.

E Ffectiveness of Intrinsic Biodegradation Enhancement in Oil Hydrocarbons Contaminated Soil

Abstract Studies were conducted using a 10-chamber Micro-Oxymax (Columbus, OH, USA) respirometer to determine the effect of bioaugmentation, biostimulation and combination of them on enhancing intrinsic biodegradation of oil hydrocarbons in soil. Contaminated soil was collected from a former military airport in Kluczewo, Poland. Bioaugmentation was realized by addition of indigenous or exogenous bacteria to soil. Biostimulation was done by aerated water supply and surfactant addition. Bioaugmentation + addition of a surfactant was applied as the combined treatment. The intrinsic and enhanced hydrocarbons biodegradation rates were estimated from the slopes of linear regressions of cumulative curves of O2 uptake. Pertinent biodegradation rates were recalculated on the basis of the stoichiometric reaction (mass balance equation) and conversion equation. The results showed that combined treatment (indigenous bacteria bioaugmentation + addition of a surfactant) was the most effective method of biodegradation enhancement as the 20-fold increase of biodegradation rate was observed.

Jak Rakowice stały się kolebką polskiego lotnictwa

How Rakowice became the hub of Polish aviation This article describes the takeover from Austrian hands of the military airport in Krakow-Rakowice during the liberation of Krakow on 31 October 1918. Although this subject is treated marginally in the historiography of the town, the airport taken over was of great significance for Polish military aviation and, thanks to this, obtained the title of the “cradle of Polish aviation”. The article is an attempt to establish a true chronology of the events which led to the seizure of power by the minority Polish crew and the protection of military property against looting, as well as to refute the myths that have grown over the last decades, and which are frequently presented in the literature dedicated to Polish aviation. The article recalls the important role played during the days when the Habsburg rule fell in Krakow by two Polish aviators – Captain Roman Florer and Sgt Mech. Antoni Jucha, thanks to which, the airport was very quickly able to serve the reborn Republic. The text presents the infrastructure of the airport on the day of its acquisition, as well as its visible traces in the current landscape of Krakow, almost one hundred years after the described events and over fifty years since the airport was closed.

Soil Stabilization for the Building of Unpaved Runways

This paper analyzes the bearing capacity of an unpaved runway built in Grazzanise military airport. Structural issues were studied during the planning phase. After carrying out tests required for soil classification, laboratory tests were carried out on different chemical stabilizers available on the market. Four test areas were created at the airport with the aim of finding the best solution in terms of bearing capacity and costs. These analyses showed that the best solution for soil stabilization was recycled ground pozzolan and calcium oxide and tests showed that this materials have a good CBR (California Bearing Ratio) average value.

La mafia in aeroporto. Punta raisi: cronaca di una speculazione annunciata

The history of Palermo’s Punta Raisi Airport - that is called today Falcone and Borsellino in memory of the two judges killed by Cosa Nostra - started after World War II, coinciding with the increase of civilian air traffic in the skies of the Sicilian capital, third in Italy for its number of transits of passengers and freight, which became unsustainable figures for the military airport of Boccadifalco. Everything begins with the creation in 1953 of the Autonomous Consortium for the Airport of Palermo, with the aim to implement the project of a new infrastructure located a few steps away from the city center, ready to compete with the best airports in Italy, to increase the modernization of commerce and of the Sicilian society. The new airport, in fact, soon became able to affect the life of the people and the history of Palermo, changing the character and social structures of the towns and the villages neighboring the airport station, helping to ground specific interests of Cosa Nostra and becoming a crossroad of criminal trafficking and illegal speculations.

공항 콘크리트 포장 설계를 위한 환경하중 산정방법 개발

콘크리트 포장의 환경하중은 온도하중과 수분하중으로 구분할 수 있으며, 이는 콘크리트 슬래브 내의 온도분포와 건조수축 및 크리프를 의미한다. 본 연구에서는 공항 콘크리트 포장의 역학적 설계에 필요한 환경하중을 산정할 수 있는 방법을 개발하였다. 먼저, 대상 지역과 설계 슬래브 두께를 결정한 후, 포장 온도 예측 프로그램을 사용하여 예측된 슬래브 깊이에 따른 콘크리트 온도분포를 등가선형 온도차이로 환산하였다. 기존 건조수축 예측 모형을 개선하여 지역별 상대습도를 고려하여 콘크리트의 건조수축을 예측한 후 부등건조수축 등가선형 온도차이로 환산하였다. 또한, 응력이완을 건조수축에 반영하였다. 결국, 온도에 의한 등가선형 온도차이와 수분에 의한 부등건조수축 등가선형 온도차이를 합하여 최종 환경하중인 총 등가선형 온도차이를 산정하였다. 적용 예를 보이기 위해 지역별 기상조건을 대표할만한 국내 민간공항 8곳 및 군공항 2곳의 환경하중을 본 연구에서 개발된 방법으로 계산하고 비교하였다. The environmental load of concrete pavement can be categorized by temperature and moisture loads, which mean temperature distribution, and drying shrinkage and creep in the concrete slab. In this study, a method calculating the environmental load essential to mechanistic design of airport concrete pavement was developed. First, target area and design slab thickness were determined. And, the concrete temperature distribution with slab depth was predicted by a pavement temperature prediction program to calculate equivalent linear temperature difference. The concrete drying shrinkage was predicted by improving an existing model to calculate differential shrinkage equivalent linear temperature difference considering regional relative humidity. In addition, the stress relaxation was considered in the drying shrinkage. Eventually, the equivalent linear temperature difference due to temperature and the differential shrinkage equivalent linear temperature difference due to moisture were combined into the total equivalent linear temperature difference as terminal environmental load. The environmental load of eight civilian and two military airports which represent domestic regional weather conditions were calculated and compared by the method developed in this study to show its application.

Die epigäische Spinnenfauna (Arachnida, Araneae) in Sandrasen, Borstgrasrasen und Ruderalfluren im Naturschutzgebiet „Alter Flugplatz Karlsruhe“

The epigeic spider assemblages (Arachnida, Araneae) of dry acid grassland, mat-grass and ruderal vegetation in a nature protection area in the upper Rhine valley. epigeic spiders were sampled using pitfall traps during one year in an anthropogenic open site within the city of karlsruhe (Alter Flugplatz karlsruhe). The area, historically used as a military parade ground and airport, is protected as a Special Area of conservation (SAc) within the Natura 2000 network of the eU and since 2010 as a German nature reserve. We were interested in the diversity, assemblage structure and distribution of spider species within the area and investigated three different plant formations: sparse grass-dominated vegetation with frequent open sand patches (sandy turf ), closed grassland dominated by the mat-grass (Nardus stricta) and ruderal vegetation with blackberry bushes. 123 species were identified from these captures, including many specialists of xerothermic habitats and rare and endangered species like Alopecosa striatipes, Agroeca lusatica, Haplodrassus dalmatensis, Styloctetor romanus, Typhochrestus simoni and Xysticus striatipes as well as extremely rare species of unclassified red list status like Mysmenella jobi, Theonoe minutissima and Zora parallela. The three investigated habitat types were quite similar concerning α-diversity, while measures of β-diversity indicated a strong species turnover. By performing an ecological habitat analysis (using autecological data on spiders) essential differences between the three habitat types could not be discovered, especially not between mat-grass and sandy turf. However, analysing the guild structures showed that different ways of using habitat resources dominated in the different habitat types. For Nardus-grassland several species could be identified as indicator species. While many xeroand photophiles live in the open grassland, the stenotopic psammophiles of inland dunes in the region were not found. The ruderal area houses a mix of grasslandand forest species.

MONITORING DIOXINS RESIDUE IN SURROUNDING AREA OF BIEN HOA AIRBASE

Bien Hoa Airbase is the military airport where the defoliants such Agent Orange, Agent White and Agent Blue were storaged during Ranch Hand Operation and Pacer Ivy Campaign. There was also happened some large chemical leakages in 1970 with total about 28,000 L. Nowadays Bien Hoa Airbase is named as one of three “hot spots” of Dioxin contamination and it is decontaminating by the national/international programs. However the risk caused by Dioxins/Furans residue spreading out through runoff and sewage from inside the area is still affecting on surrounding ecosystems as well as on the health of local population. Our monitoring result in dry and rainy seasons in 2010 has detected the residue of TCDD in soil (6/28 samples) with maximum concentration of 0.687 ng /g dry weight; in sediment (3/20 samples) with maximum concentration of 0.442 ng /g dry weight; and in fish sample with maximum concentration of 18.4 ng/kg wet weight. Compared with current Vietnamese and international standards these values are greater than the allowed standards (TEQ was 3-4 times higher than PEL value, max TEQ was up to 50 times higher than PEL value) and can cause adverse effects to ecosystems and human health if exposure long and continuous. Furthermore, the area around Bien Hoa Airbase were converted into residential areas with high population density, thus the need for research as well as warnings about this potential risk to health to residents in the area.

Concentrations of heavy metals and PCBs in the tissues of European beavers (Castor fiber) captured in northeastern Poland

European beavers (Castor fiber) from two regions were examined to identify exposure to persistent environmental contaminants. A reference group was comprised of six animals from the Forest Division of Srokowo, and an exposed group was comprised of five animals from the vicinity of a former military airport operated in 1918–1986—both from Warmia land in Poland. 137Cs in beavers' muscles was considered negligible for the overall condition and reproduction of the animals. Elevated levels of Cd and Pb occurred in the kidneys and liver of beavers from a former military airport area. dl-PCBs were found in the liver of all specimens, and pCB no. 118 was a dominant compound. Beavers as animals living both in water and land habitats can be good bioindicators of heavy metal environmental pollution caused by human activity. Despite the significant contamination of former military sites in northeastern Poland, the beaver population shows an upward trend, reflecting the excellent adaptation of this species to a changing environment.

Highly elevated levels of perfluorooctane sulfonate and other perfluorinated acids found in biota and surface water downstream of an international airport, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Per- and poly-fluorinated compounds (PFCs), which include perfluorinated carboxylates (PFCAs) and sulfonates (PFSAs) and various precursors, are used in a wide variety of industrial, commercial and domestic products. This includes aqueous film forming foam (AFFF), which is used by military and commercial airports as fire suppressants. In a preliminary assessment prior to this study, very high concentrations (> 1 ppm wet weight) of the PFSA, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), were discovered in the plasma of snapping turtles ( Chelydra serpentina) collected in 2008 from Lake Niapenco in southern Ontario, Canada. We presently report on a suite of C 6 to C 15 PFCAs, C 4, C 6, C 8 and C 10 PFSAs, several PFC precursors (e.g. perfluorooctane sulfonamide, PFOSA), and a cyclic perfluorinated acid used in aircraft hydraulic fluid, perfluoroethylcyclohexane sulfonate (PFECHS) in surface water from the Welland River and Lake Niapenco, downstream of the John C. Munro International Airport, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Amphipods, shrimp, and water were sampled from the Welland River and Lake Niapenco, as well as local references. The same suite of PFCs in turtle plasma from Lake Niapenco was compared to those from other southern Ontario sites. PFOS dominated the sum PFCs in all substrates (e.g., > 99% in plasma of turtles downstream the Hamilton Airport, and 72.1 to 94.1% at all other sites). PFOS averaged 2223 (± 247.1 SE) ng/g in turtle plasma from Lake Niapenco, and ranged from 9.0 to 171.4 elsewhere. Mean PFOS in amphipods and in water were 518.1 (± 83.8) ng/g and 130.3 (± 43.6) ng/L downstream of the airport, and 19.1 (± 2.7) ng/g and 6.8 (± 0.5) ng/L at reference sites, respectively. Concentrations of selected PFCs declined with distance downstream from the airport. Although there was no known spill event or publicly reported use of AFFF associated with a fire event at the Hamilton airport, the airport is a likely major source of PFC contamination in the Welland River.

EVALUATION OF NOISE AROUND MILITARY INSTALLATIONS / TRIUKŠMO KARINĖSE TERITORIJOSE ĮVERTINIMAS

Noise is one of the most common adverse environmental factors. Military bases and airports and the areas surrounding them are affected by acoustic impact. The problem of military noise is researched in this article. Since 2004 Šiauliai Airport has been the site of NATO forces’ base in the Baltic States for the protection of the region's airspace. Military aircraft are used for the mission. The Kairiai military grounds on the Curonian Lagoon is the only site in Lithuania where all kinds of military forces may arrange their training. Measurement of the level of noise caused by Šiauliai Airport in residential and public areas of the surrounding areas and by the Kairiai military grounds was carried out using a Nor121 digital sound analyser. It was found that the maximum noise level (Lmax) in the surroundings of Šiauliai Airport sometimes exceeds the permissible maximum noise level specified in HN 33:2007. Exceeding of Lmax on aircraft flights was short (up to 5 minutes). The calculated level of noise Lden and Lnight at all points of measurement within the territories surrounding Šiauliai Airport does not exceed the limit values and causes no damage to the health of the population in Šiauliai. The noise generated by shooting at Kairiai military grounds causes no damage to the health of residents. Santrauka Vienas iš plačiausiai paplitusių kenksmingų aplinkos veiksnių yra triukšmas. Akustinį poveikį patiria karinių poligonų ir aerodromų aplinka. Šiame straipsnyje nagrinėjama karinio triukšmo problema. Nuo 2004 m. Šiaulių oro uostas tapo Baltijos šalių NATO pajėgų dislokacijos vieta, iš kurios vykdoma Baltijos šalių oro apsauga. Šiai apsaugai atlikti naudojami kariniai lėktuvai. Prie Kuršių marių įsikūręs Kairių poligonas yra vienintelis Lietuvoje, kuriame gali treniruotis visų rūšių karinės pajėgos. Šiaulių oro uosto triukšmo matavimai aplinkinių teritorijų gyvenamojoje ir viešosios paskirties aplinkoje bei Kairių poligone atlikti skaitmeniniu garso analizatoriumi Nr. 121. Nustatyta, kad maksimalus triukšmo lygis (L max) Šiaulių oro uosto aplinkoje kartais viršija leistinąjį maksimalų triukšmo lygį pagal HN 33:2007. L max viršijimai, siejami su orlaivių skrydžiais, buvo trumpalaikiai (iki 5 min.). Apskaičiuoti dienos, vakaro, nakties triukšmo lygis L dvn ir nakties triukšmo rodiklis L nakties neviršija ribinių triukšmo dydžių, Šiaulių miesto gyventojų sveikatai grėsmės nekelia. Kairių poligone šaudymo pratybų keliamas triukšmas gyventojų sveikatai grėsmės nekelia.

Are Small Habitat Patches Useful for Grassland Bird Conservation?

Grasslands, and species dependent on them, have been declining throughout New England since large-scale farm abandonment began in the 19 th century. Several avian grassland obligates are now considered threatened within New England. During the summer of 2009, we inventoried breeding birds at the 10.5-ha National Guard train- ing site in Strafford, NH using systematic surveys. Dolichonyx oryzivorus (Bobolinks), Sturnella magna (Eastern Meadowlarks), and Passerculus sandwichensis (Savannah Sparrows) were found breeding at the site. Bobolinks were the most abundant grassland obligate, and their nesting success on this site indicates that small grasslands may be just as useful in grassland bird conservation as larger habitat patches. Because large grass- lands in New England are few and usually consist of hayo elds and pasture, blueberry barrens, military and commercial airports, and lando lls, focusing conservation efforts on smaller grasslands as well as large ones seems warranted.

Effects of oxygen supply on the biodegradation rate in oil hydrocarbons contaminated soil

Respirometry studies using the 10–chamber Micro-Oxymax respirometer (Columbus, Ohio) were conducted to determine the effect of biostimulation (by diverse ways of O2 supply) on enhancing biodegradation in soils contaminated with oil hydrocarbons. Soil was collected from a former military airport in Kluczewo, Poland. Oxygen was supplied by means of aerated water, aqueous solutions of H2O2 and KMnO4. The biodegradation was evaluated on the basis of O2 uptake and CO2 production. The O2 consumption and CO2 production rates during hydrocarbons biodegradation were estimated from the slopes of cumulative curve linear regressions. The pertinent intrinsic and enhanced biodegradation rates were calculated on the basis of mass balance equation and O2 uptake and CO2 production rates. The biodegradation rates of 5–7 times higher as compared to a control were observed when the aqueous solution of KMnO4 in concentration of 20 g L−1 was applied. Permanganate is known to readily oxidize alkene carbon – carbon double bonds; so it can be successfully applied in remediation technology for soils contaminated with oil hydrocarbons. While hydrocarbons are not completely mineralized by permanganate oxidation reactions, their structure is altered by polar functional groups providing vast improvements in aqueous solubility and availability for biodegradation. The 3% aqueous solution of H2O2 caused significant improvement of the biodegradation rates as compared to a control (on average about 260%). Aerobic biodegradation of hydrocarbons can benefit from the presence of oxygen released during H2O2 decomposition. Adding of aerated water resulted in an increase of biodegradation rates (about 114 – 229%) as compared to a control. The aerated water can both be the source of oxygen for microorganisms and determine the transport of substrate to bacteria cells.

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Study of Factors Affecting the Compressive Strength of Sandy Soil Stabilized with Polymer

Material engineers are continually confronted by depletion of quality construction materials for road and airfield construction. Even if good quality construction materials for road and airfield are available, the haul costs may preclude their use. Stabilization of soils in order to improve strength and durability properties often relies on cement, lime, fly ash, and asphalt emulsion. These materials are inexpensive, relatively easy to apply, and provide benefits to many different soil types. In addition, there are a variety of nontraditional soil stabilization/modification additives available from the commercial sector such as polymer emulsions, acids, lignin derivatives, enzymes, tree resin emulsions, and silicates. These additives may be in liquid or solid state and are often touted to be applicable for most soils. Polymers may be easy to apply in permeable materials such as sand and may achieve good stabilization in relatively shorter periods of time. These polymer materials can be used for stabilizing, soil in road shoulders, slopes, and pads of military and emergency airports. In addition, these types of materials can be used to prevent the movement of the dune sands on the sides of railroads and stabilizing the dust on the surface of access roads. Within the present research, two different polymers of wide range of dosages have been applied. Following results have been achieved: (1) These polymers improve the compressive strength from 0.03 N/mm² for control sample to 5.2 N/mm² for improved sample. (2) The optimum curing time of dune sands with different polymers is 7 days. (3) The UC strength of stabilized samples soars with an increase in the temperature, in the first 24 h of the curing process. (4) When the concentration of salt increased from 1 to 10 percent, UC strength of stabilized samples decreased.

Viaje póstumo a París del Faraón Ramsés II

Por primera vez en la historia, un faraón egipcio viaja al extranjero. Su momia, fue trasladada a París, para «curarla» de las múltiples invasiones de bacterias, insectos necrófagos, microbios y hongos de los que estaba invadido, además de múltiples fracturas. E igualmente, para diagnosticar las causas de su muerte. El traslado de El Cairo a París y regreso, se realizó con un avión militar francés. Egipto, notificó a Israel este vuelo extraordinario, para evitar cualquier problema que pudiera surgir, en aquella zona tan conflictiva de Oriente Medio. En cuanto el avión penetro en el espacio aéreo francés, dos reactores militares le dieron escolta hasta el aeropuerto de Le Bourget-París, donde se le rindieron honores de Jefe de Estado. Toda Francia se puso a disposición de Ramsés el Grande. Mme. Desroches- Noblecourt, Inspectora General a Perpetuidad de los Museos Estatales de Francia, no lo abandonó ni un momento y voló con él desde Heliopolis hasta París y su posterior regreso a El Cairo.When French scientists informed Mme. Desroches-Noblecourt, Inspector General of National Museums, of the poor state of preservation of the mummy of pharaoh Ramesses II (he suffered from bacteria, necrophagus insects, fungus, etc.), she immediately informed the President of France, who made a quick trip to inform the Egyptian President about the news. Giscard d’Estaing suggested taking the mummy to Paris in a special plane. Due to the political situation of the time and because Ramesses II would be travelling in a military plane, Egypt informed Israel about the special conditions surrounding this extraordinary flight. This was to be the first time in History that an Egyptian pharaoh «travelled» to a foreign country. The plane departed from Cairo’s Heliopolis Airport where the royal passenger was treated to the honours of a living king. The date was September 26th, 1976. The moment the plane entered French air space; two air force fighters escorted the late pharaoh to Paris. Upon his arrival at the military airport of Le Bourget- Paris, the mummy was received with all the honours of a ruling president. After the formal reception and following the personal wish of the French President, the mortuary car went to the «Place de la Concorde» so that Ramesses II could again «see» his obelisk of Luxor temple. At the Musée de l’Homme everything was ready in two large rooms: one was the laboratory and the other was where the pharaoh would rest at night, always protected by policemen. For the next eight months, the scientists examined the mummy to determine the exact causes of the damage. Ramesses II was very ‘ill’, and everything was to be done to spare him a second death. There was no limit in means or efforts. All France was at Ramesses the Great’s disposal. For the first time ever, they performed a biostereometry on a human body that made it possible to accurately reconstruct the pharaoh’s original features. Whwn he was «healed» of his multiple ailments, he was carefully packed in a very special (fireproof, waterproof, shockproof and floatable) coffin. On May 10th, 1977, and with the same ceremonial protocol, the royal mummy returned to his country of origin. Mme. Desroches-Noblecourt was with him permanently; since his departure from Cairo until his return back to Egypt.

Evaluation of the Use of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement in Airfield HMA Pavements

This paper summarizes the literature review as well as the documented use and performance of airfield pavements that used reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) in hot-mix asphalt (HMA). A review of in-service airfield pavements with RAP-containing HMA mixes was conducted as part of this study. Two civilian airports and one military airport were identified as currently using RAP in the HMA surface course. The three airports are Logan International Airport (BOS), Griffin-Spalding County Airport (6A2), and Oceana Naval Air Station (NTU). Furthermore, the impact of RAP on the performance life of HMA airfield pavements on a large hub, small hub, and general aviation was evaluated using actual airport traffic mixes. The performance life analysis used the characteristics and mechanical properties of HMA mixes in the linear elastic airfield pavement design software (LEDFAA1.3) to compare the estimated performance life of HMA pavements with and without RAP materials. The documented research effort has recently been conducted as part of the Airfield Asphalt Pavement Technology Program, Project 05-06.

Spatial distribution of jet fuel in the vadoze zone of a heterogeneous and fractured soil

The goal of the present work is to screen and evaluate all available data before selecting and testing remediation technologies on heterogeneous soils polluted by jet fuel. The migration pathways of non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) in the subsurface relate closely with soil properties. A case study is performed on the vadoze zone of a military airport of north-west Poland contaminated by jet fuel. Soil samples are collected from various depths of two cells, and on-site and off-site chemical analyses of hydrocarbons are conducted by using Pollut Eval® apparatus and GC-MS, respectively. The geological conceptual model of the site along with microscopic and hydraulic properties of the porous matrix and fractures enable us to interpret the non-uniform spatial distribution of jet fuel constituents. The total concentration of the jet fuel and its main hydrocarbon families (n-paraffins, major aromatics) over the two cells is governed by the slow preferential flow of NAPL through the porous matrix, the rapid NAPL convective flow through vertical desiccation and sub-horizontal glaciotectonic fractures, and n-paraffin biodegradation in upper layers where the rates of oxygen transfer is not limited by complexities of the pore structure. The information collected is valuable for the selection, implementation and evaluation of two in situ remediation methods.