In the Spotlight

Dr. Navneet Garg participated in the Annual Meeting of the Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists (AAPT), in Boston, MA, on March 21-25, 2026. The meeting included asphalt-related technical interchange sessions presented by experts from around the world, providing information on the latest developments in asphalt binder and asphalt mix testing to refine/modify FAA P401 specifications and standards to improve airport pavement performance and to develop a testing plan for the next test cycle at FAA's National Airport Pavement & Materials Research Center (NAPMRC). Dr. Garg had discussions with the National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA) regarding the Airport Asphalt Pavement Technology Program (AAPTP), an FAA-Industry partnership required by the FAA Reauthorization Bill. Dr. Garg also met with the principle investigators of Balanced Mix Design Project (for developing specifications for limiting asphalt rutting and cracking in airfield pavements). The meeting was attended by more than 250 U.S. and international representatives of the asphalt industry, academia, consultants, and federal agencies. Navneet Garg | navneet.garg@faa.gov

Dr. Navneet Garg spoke in an online webinar "Designing for Performance in Perpetual Asphalt Pavements" on March 19, 2026, organized by the Transportation Research Board. The topic of his presentation was "Perpetual Pavements for Airfields," and he presented results from accelerated pavement tests conducted during construction cycles 7 and 9. The webinar was attended by more than 360 participants from around the world.

Navneet Garg | navneet.garg@faa.gov

The Airports Emerging Technologies R&D Section (E263) engaged in a self-help project involving the revitalization of the Heliport and Multiobject Phase Tracking and Ranging (MOPTAR) areas on the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center for Advanced Aerospace’s campus on March 27-31, 2026. The self-help approach enhanced fiscal responsibility by completing the project within the same scope as the original project plan that involved outsourcing the work while saving thousands of dollars. Furthermore, collaboration with the Center Operations Division led to subcontracting some project activities requiring heavy machines, streamlining the work and maximizing employee safety. The revitalized Heliport and MOPTAR areas will provide an optimal environmental context for research and training, exemplifying the Technical Center’s Focus Area of Advancing the Core Work of the Center, as the Section’s research collaborations with Federal Partners, who are focused on detection and mitigation of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), are furthered with this remodeled operating area.

William Perkins | william.c.perkins@faa.gov

Dr. Dan Offenbacker and Harold Muniz-Ruiz (AAS-110) led the planning and execution of an Airport Pavement Design & Evaluation Workshop held in Belize City, Belize, on March 24-26, 2026. They worked closely with the regional airport in Belize City and FAA Office of International Affairs team to plan and execute a heavily attended workshop on the implementation of new Aircraft Classification Rating - Pavement Classification Rating (ACR-PCR) standards. The workshop was attended by 21 participants from 8 countries in the Central American and Caribbean region.

Dan Offenbacker | daniel.offenbacker@faa.gov

Airport Research Specialist Garrison Canter participated in a tabletop exercise conducted under Phase 2 of the FAA BEYOND Program in Memphis, TN. This program seeks to further advance the integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into the National Airspace System, including beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations.  The purpose of the tabletop exercise was to discuss proposed UAS operations over open airport movement areas and identify any necessary updates to FAA policies and procedures to safely accommodate these operations. Participants included representatives from BEYOND partners Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority (MSCAA) and FedEx, as well as personnel from multiple FAA organizations, including ARP, ATO, and AVS.

Garrison Canter | garrison.canter@faa.gov