A Scientific Approach to Extending Runway Performance and Life While Reducing Cost
Get significant cost savings now AND for the next 20+ years. Save dramatically on gravel, maintenance, dust control, and aircraft damage. Midwest believes in preventative, proactive gravel runway protection now and not unnecessary spending year after year after year.
Midwest has already helped over 100 gravel runway operators vastly improve runway performance while saving money. We have a program for any runway situation — from rehabilitation or reconstruction, to long-term stabilization or preventing fugitive dust emissions for existing runways.
Midwest SECUR® Gravel Runway Stabilization creates a superior hard surface gravel runway designed to be consistently more stable, stronger and longer lasting.
Midwest Fines Preservation delivers a long-term and FOD-free runway that requires far less maintenance and material replacement.
Midwest Dust Control produces a dust-free runway that lasts up to 2 seasons without reapplication.
Our Solutions:
SECUR® SOIL STABILIZATION SYSTEM
Definition: Chemically modifies runway aggregate to improve its engineering properties including load-bearing capacity, water-resistance, extended year-round usage, and resistance to climate change impacts.
Benefits: Superior stability, strength, longevity, and performance.
When recommended: Reconstruction or major rehabilitation projects/rebuild.
- Patented stabilization solution
- Blended application
- Proactive approach
- Resulting in Scientifically Engineered and Constructed Unpaved Runway (SECUR)
Get a gravel runway constructed to a hard surface that’s more stable and FOD-free, providing improved strength, longevity, durability, aircraft performance, and safety.
By following Midwest’s construction practices and incorporating our EK35 into the upper 4-6” of the runway surface, you experience critical long-term life-cycle operational benefits.
FINES PRESERVATION SYSTEM
Definition: The long-term preservation of aggregate and fines in the as-constructed state of the runway, through the incorporation of a high-performing binder that locks all fines and particles together.
Benefits: Bound surface free of gravel FOD, save on upkeep and materials replacement, and improved aircraft performance.
When recommended: Existing runway that needs protection or enhancement.
- Topical application
- Proactive approach
- Lowers lifecycle costs
- Reduces maintenance
Reprofiling and compaction is followed by the topical application of one of our Fines Preservation high-performing binding systems. This creates a hardbound, FOD-free gravel surface that provides improved performance, durability, and longevity.
The Midwest Fines Preservation System delivers great value when an existing runway only needs a 3-to-4 inch gravel lift, if the runway is in reasonably good shape, or with runway rehabilitation/overlay projects.
DUST CONTROL TOPICAL TREATMENT
Definition: The suppression of critical airborne fines.
Benefits: Dust-free, improves visibility and the health and safety of pilots, passengers, and aircraft.
When recommended: Existing runway between scheduled maintenance.
- Short-term duration
- Topical application
- Reactive approach
- Reduces upkeep
Get a dust-free runway with an unpaved surface, constructed from unbound granular surface composed of sand, clay, crushed stone, or other soil materials.
Dust control provides an effective and economical solution for preventing fugitive dust emissions. Its performance can last up to two seasons without reapplication, extending the life of the runway and delay costly gravel replacement.
University-tested and approved
The Norwegian University of Science and Technology proves that EK35 is superior
Results show that the SECUR Stabilization System is the only solution to withstand freeze/thaw cycles:
“The properties of the treated aggregate [with EK35] do not significantly change after exposure to freezing-thawing actions.”
“Properly adheres to the aggregates when exposed to severe mechanical actions, also in wet conditions.”
“The synthetic fluid does not freeze, its effectiveness does not seem to be impaired by rigid temperatures in harsh environments.”
“The synthetic fluid can be reactivated by means of reshaping and ripping operation in the field as it turns from a liquid into a waxy solid after application.”
World Leader in Technology and Innovation
Enhancing and protecting remote, community surfaces
Over the last 20 years, Midwest has been dedicated to perfecting our product technologies, installation, and maintenance techniques and application equipment.
- Superior, consistent performance
- Designed specifically for gravel runways
- R&D innovations in partnership with the most respected independent agencies, engineers, environmental scientists, airport operators, and pilots
- 100+ years combined experience treating, maintaining, and monitoring unpaved runways
Midwest's Proven Process of "Right People, Right Questions, Right Sequence” Equals Quality Decisions
Different projects require different dust control solutions based on each site’s specific conditions and requirements. A comprehensive and customized program is created to guarantee optimum performance, regulatory compliance, safety, environmental concerns, and customer satisfaction.
DISCOVER
Midwest engages with you to learn your business objectives and critical success factors to determine how we can deliver them. We create a value-expected statement and agreement, then work more to investigate if we have a match or not.
DIAGNOSE
Midwest will evaluate your facility’s specific dust control issues and needs through site audits and interviews with key facility personnel. This information identifies areas of concern, defines the objectives, and determines the most appropriate program.
DESIGN
Midwest works with you to confirm that we understand the issues you face and understand the causes so that we can deliver your expected results based on data and information gathered during our visit to your site. Together we evaluate your specific dust control program to deliver the exact results you want that will meet your business and operating objectives.
DELIVER
Whether a turnkey, fully Managed Service Program, Guided Self-Apply, or Enhanced Watering System is selected, Midwest will work to assure you achieve the results you want and that your goals and success factors are achieved for exactly the price that was agreed upon at the outset. Our guarantee is not to sell products but to deliver on the promises made!
MIDWEST’S APPROACH TO RUNWAY MANAGEMENT
Maintain the as-constructed condition of your runway while spending the least possible
Midwest’s Gravel Runway program provides a safe and operable runway system at the lowest feasible cost. You get the runway you need and obtain the greatest return for the funds invested.
The chart shows that preserving your runway beats waiting until a major rehabilitation or a full reconstruction is required.
Simply put, as the condition of the runway deteriorates over time, the cost of doing maintenance sharply increases.
- As soon as you see dust on the runway after construction, your material and investment is blowing away and runway deterioration has begun.
- Midwest’s high-performing binder systems protects the runway, whether during runway reconstruction or resurfacing.
- This approach identifies the best time to effectively invest funds.
- While maintenance programs only target remedial needs, preventative action delivers the expected outcomes and results you require.
We believe that spending 2-5% more during the reconstruction of a remote, unpaved runway costing $8-$15M would extend the life of your investment by 10+ years before any gravel needs to be added.
Contact one of our Gravel Runway representatives to diagnose and discover the installation system that would be best for you and to determine how much cost savings can be realized at your runway. We will use your current cost information to identify areas of direct cost and performance improvements.
Midwest Improves the Quality of Life in Remote Communities
Problem
Transportation is the backbone of all communities and critical to the quality of life of residents in remote Northern villages and communities.
- 82% of Alaskan villages are not accessible by road
- 251 native villages rely solely on local airstrips for necessities such as food, mail, healthcare, higher education, and travel
- Remote communities in Northern and Central Canada face similar infrastructure limitations
- Only 19% of Northwest Territory residents have year-round highway access
Equally important is the safety and health of the residents who live in these villages and communities.
- When not properly treated and maintained, unpaved runways produce high levels of dust
- Fugitive dust has a profound negative impact on the the environment and residents
Solution
Midwest’s customized gravel runway solutions have vastly improved their quality of life and socio-economic conditions without sacrificing stewardship, safety, and environmental responsibilities.
- Eliminated dust emission and the associated health impacts created by nearby runway operations
- Improved and reliable means for medivac operations and transportation
- Dependable, year-round transportation of food, supplies, services and people
- Reliable access and transportation has increased tourism and aviation-related commerce
- Enabled increased payloads of delivered and shipped goods
- Safe and reliable transportation for recreation and social events, including high school sports, as well as access to state/national parks and other locales
WANT THE MOST ADVANCED GRAVEL RUNWAY TECHNOLOGY IN THE WORLD?