At a busy airport, even a relatively small change to the layout of an apron roadway requires careful planning. Airfield pavement markings must be clear, accurately positioned and appropriate for an environment where aircraft, ground support vehicles and airport personnel operate in close proximity.
Roadgrip’s UK Airports team did just that at Farnborough Airport in Hampshire, removing an existing section of apron roadway markings before reconfiguring and installing the new layout.
The project called for two specialist capabilities: removing the original markings without damaging the pavement beneath and accurately applying the new arrangement.
Before the revised roadway layout could be installed, the existing markings needed to be removed.
For this stage, our team used Roadgrip’s specialist hydroblasting equipment, which employs ultra-high-pressure water jetting to strip paint and other surface coatings from pavement.
Unlike aggressive mechanical removal methods, which can abrade or scar the underlying material, controlled hydroblasting allows experienced operators to remove markings while preserving the integrity of the pavement.
The equipment uses precisely directed jets of water to break down and lift the existing coating. By carefully controlling the operating parameters, the team can target the markings without unnecessarily disturbing the surface beneath.
This is particularly valuable in an airport environment, where pavement condition is critical and avoiding unnecessary surface damage can help reduce the need for additional repairs.
Once the original markings had been removed, Roadgrip’s team set out and installed the new roadway configuration.
Apron roadways serve an important role in managing vehicle movements around airport operational areas. Clear markings help define routes and boundaries, supporting the safe movement of ground handling vehicles, maintenance teams and other authorised traffic.
When these routes are altered, the markings need to communicate the new arrangement without ambiguity.
Farnborough has a unique place in British aviation history. The Hampshire airfield has been associated with aviation innovation for more than a century and is internationally recognised as the home of the Farnborough International Airshow.
Today, Farnborough Airport is a leading UK business aviation airport, serving private and corporate aircraft.
That environment places particular importance on maintaining well-defined operational areas, with apron roadways forming part of the wider network used by airport vehicles and support services.
The result was a clearly defined new layout, with the redundant markings removed and the existing pavement preserved.
It’s a relatively straightforward-looking change, but one that demonstrates why the right surface preparation method matters just as much as the markings that follow.
Learn more about our airfield services in the UK and internationally at Roadgrip Airports
