At Roadgrip Airports, we’ve worked in some far-flung corners of the world, from the windswept runways of Shetland to the volcanic islands of the Azores. This project took us further into the North Atlantic, about 320 kilometres north of Scotland, to the remote and spectacular Faroe Islands.
Our team crossed the North Atlantic to Vága Airport, the only airport serving the Faroe Islands and a vital link to the outside world. The mission: to complete 80,000 m² of runway grooving as part of a major resurfacing and extension project.
The Faroe Islands themselves are extraordinary. 18 volcanic islands rising out of the ocean, where steep green cliffs meet cloud-filled skies and waterfalls plunge straight into the sea. Located between Scotland, Iceland and Norway, the islands are as beautiful as they are unpredictable. For our team, that meant breathtaking summer conditions followed by a dramatic turn as autumn rolled in.
When we first arrived, the weather was calm, the skies clear, and the scenery stunning. But as the North Atlantic autumn took hold, the team found themselves battling dense low cloud, driving wind and rain from Storm Amy, which brought monsoon-style downpours to the islands. Working through those conditions wasn’t easy, but that’s exactly what makes grooving so critical in climates like this.
Runway grooving is designed to dissipate surface water, reducing the risk of hydroplaning, which is when a layer of water builds between aircraft tyres and the runway, causing a loss of traction. By cutting a precise pattern of grooves into the surface, water drains away faster, allowing tyres to maintain grip even during heavy rain. On a coastal runway just 85 metres above sea level, where Atlantic weather systems can roll in without warning, those grooves make a real difference to safety and performance.
Despite the challenges, the team delivered.
From Iceland (which we grooved five years ago) to Shetland, Stornoway, and now the Faroe Islands, the Roadgrip Airports team continues to operate at the edge of the map, helping airports in remote locations to stay safe, resilient, and ready for anything the weather brings.
Visit Roadgrip Airports to learn more about our work in airports around the world.
