Echo Romeo Rapid Exit Taxiway

Our Aviation team provided detailed design for a new Rapid Exit Taxiway (RET) at Gatwick Airport. Part of the airport's long-term strategy to increase aircraft movements on the Main Runway, the taxiway was required to improve capacity by allowing rapid clearance of aircraft departing Runway 26L.

Key Details

Project name

Echo Romeo Rapid Exit Taxiway 

Client  

London Gatwick Airport 

Location

Gatwick Airport 

Services provided:

  • Civil Engineering 
  • Pavement Design 
  • AGL Design 
  • Airfield Planning 

Challenge

The design challenges throughout the project included: 

  • The proximity of the proposed RET in relation to the existing exit taxiways 
  • Programme restrictions and compliance with key dates
  • Construction was undertaken within a live operational environment and during the night-time closure period, therefore buildability was key  
Gatwick RET

Solution

Our Aviation team worked closely with all stakeholders through project workshops to identify the preferred solution which matched the aspirations of the airport's long-term operational masterplan. We assisted the client's project team to ensure the correct location of the RET maximised its benefit to the runway occupancy, whilst not providing any confusion to pilots using adjacent taxiways. 

Taxiway pavement material options were reviewed in relation to aircraft safety, night-time working window, continuity of material on the existing runway and local availability of materials. This ensured aircraft safety was not compromised when exiting the runway due to changes in surface friction and provided a sustainable design. 

The project was delivered using an approved BIM (Building Information Modelling) Execution Plan to ensure compliance with the Airport's Requirements (EIR's) and Technical Standards. Detail design documents were submitted on programme to allow a contractor to be successfully appointed and construction commence.   

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