Changi Airports International has announced the establishment of the Airport Pavement Centre of Excellence (APEX) to address infrastructure challenges faced by airports due to climate change, increased air traffic, and heavier aircraft. APEX will serve as a hub for collaboration between airport practitioners, academics, and pavement specialists to develop practical solutions that enhance the safety, reliability, and sustainability of airport pavements.
Airport pavements are crucial for aviation infrastructure, supporting every aircraft take-off, landing, and turnaround. However, rising traffic volumes, heavier aircraft, and extreme weather conditions are putting increased pressure on these pavements, leading to potential disruptions and economic impacts. APEX aims to bridge the gap in industry knowledge and provide tailored solutions for different climates and operating environments.
The centre’s inaugural steering committee includes five industry leaders, such as Emeritus Professor Fwa Tien Fang from the National University of Singapore and Koh Ming Sue, Executive Vice President of Engineering & Development at Changi Airport Group. The committee will focus on research, industry partnerships, and technology development to advance airport pavement innovation.
APEX plans to collaborate with established authorities like the United States Federal Aviation Administration to improve regional airport pavement standards. Koh Ming Sue stated, “Through the setup of APEX, we hope to continue to experiment, learn more and to share our knowledge and innovations to benefit the wider airport community.”
The launch of APEX at the 2nd International Conference on Sustainable Airport Pavement Management highlights its commitment to fostering dialogue and collaboration for better-performing airport infrastructure.
