Downer has an extensive history of delivering airport infrastructure and surfacing projects across Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands.
We achieve outstanding and award-winning results by utilising our vast resources, in-house expertise and wealth of project delivery experience.
Our specialist teams offer best practice solutions and innovative technology, both airside and in airport facilities.
Downer is the trans-Tasman’s proven and trusted airport infrastructure provider. Our comprehensive range of capabilities enables us to provide airport customers with integrated service delivery – from pavement construction, facilities maintenance and communications technologies, open space and asset management.
Rhinophalt is a penetrative asphalt preservative (PAP) to prevent foreign object debris (FOD) and extend the life of runways, taxiways and aprons. Rhinophalt differs from conventional treatments as it does not impact airport operations. It can be applied during night curfew hours and it maintains runway surface friction characteristics.
This cost-effective spray applied process penetrates the bituminous surface to protect the binder from the effects of environmental oxidation resulting in an increase in pavement life. The University of Nottingham X-Ray CT scan testing of DG14 airport mix from Alice Springs Airport measured the depth of influence of 15.46mm.
Rhinophalt offers airport owners a proven process to prevent the onset of surface distress issues developing on airside pavements to maintain safe airport operations.
Downer has partnered with ASI Solutions Ltd (UK) to deliver Rhinophalt in Australia. It is an internationally proven treatment used by airports in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Trapezoidal grooving is an industry-leading runway grooving solution to reduce pavement maintenance costs and extend the life of runway wearing courses. Trapezoidal grooving differs from standard square cut grooving, with angled sides providing enhanced drainage capacity, less rubber build-up and a greater resistance to chipping and groove closure.
Downer is the only Australian company equipped to utilise the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved trapezoidal grooving blade TRAP–Z. This proven trapezoidal blade has been used extensively across Europe, the United States and South-East Asia, providing superior grooving performance.
Our exclusive partnership with Cardinal International Grooving and Grinding enables us to provide TRAP–Z services to Australian Airports. The TRAP–Z blade has been developed over many years working in conjunction with the FAA to optimise trapezoidal grooving efficiency.
Airfield pavements are subject to the harsh conditions of weather and climate, as well as heavy and repetitive loads from aircraft and other vehicles. These typical service conditions lead to minor pavement defects, including cracks on the surface. The life of a pavement is therefore not only dependent on design and quality of construction but also maintenance activities to prevent minor defects from becoming major safety or functional issues.
Crack sealing is a preventative maintenance activity that deals with cracks to stop water ingress into the pavement and prevent deterioration of the underlying pavement layers. Crack sealing will address immediate safety concerns and extend the life of pavements, while saving on the cost and disruption of major pavement maintenance.
Downer’s crack sealing solutions are cost-effective and can be applied without impacting airport operations.
Asphalt pavement construction
With our own numerous fixed and mobile asphalt plants, supported by our IANZ accredited laboratories we are experienced in designing and testing a full range of asphalt mix types appropriate to the various loadings and service environments encountered at an airport. Our modern suite of paving, compaction and profiling resources are equipped with the latest technology.
Concrete pavement construction and repair
We are experienced in a wide range of concrete pavement construction methods including heavy duty pavements.
Lighting installation and intelligent traffic solutions
Downer’s Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) business provide services ranging from traffic management, CCTV, ATMS, street lighting, traffic signals, road and pavement marking and intelligent transport system technologies.
Road Science
Road Science have research and development facilities across Australia and New Zealand focused on a programme of innovations to deliver better value and quality solutions to clients.
More about Road Science.
Innovative airport infrastructure solutions
We have a focus on innovation and have direct access to research and development skills and facilities, which enable us to provide clients with certainty of products and services. By matching design and construction methodologies with specific site characteristics and by understanding the properties of these materials, the team can manipulate and alter their characteristics to better match them to a range of conditions and situations.
Safety and live airside works
Our focus to achieve Zero Harm goes beyond compliance and is embedded in the behaviours of our people. Zero Harm means delivery of products and services in a manner which supports the health and safety of people and minimises the impact of our operations on the environment. We are also committed to delivering services in a sustainable way, protecting resources for future generations. At Downer we recognise that working on live airfields is like no other work site. Our staff are experienced in the specific protocols in place for working safely in live airside environments.
