The Solution
Vindotco have developed a runway cleaner that rapidly and efficiently removes the reverted rubber tyre deposits from runways and associated areas.

The Problem
A modern 747 Jumbo Jet lands at 160mph and weighs some 300 tons when landing. It is equipped with 16 main landing gear tyres, and 2 nose landing gear tyres. Aircraft tyres are manufactured from natural rubber. Each time an aircraft lands it deposits reverted rubber on the runway and the white lane safety markings. This is exacerbated in wet conditions. An aircraft wheel will accelerate from 0-60 mph during a typical landing manoeuvre. The instant gain in wheel speed on contact with the tarmac creates a vast amount of friction. The heat created boils any water lying on the runway surface and increases the amount of rubber deposited by tyres.This accumulation of rubber can create a hazardous landing surface. This build up of rubber deposit can cover the major white lines in only three weeks.With the ever increasing world demand for air travel, maintenance timing is critical and the hours available for all maintenance are precious. The natural efficacy of rubber eraser allows runway cleaning to be kept to a minimum and reduces damage to the runways.

The Present Method
Many methods have been tried and are currently being used, none are particularly efficient in time or effectiveness. The alternatives are the use of (a)harsh chemicals, which not only affect the runway surface, but in the modern ecological friendly climate are likely to be scrupulously controlled in the future. (b)High Pressure washing, which although the cheaper option, is very time consuming,and prematurely degrades the runway surface by its aggressive action.

With the ever increasing requirements for hazardous chemical controls on the environment, some of the current batch of chemicals used for cleaning are falling foul of current and future environment legislation.