Trials conducted using recycled water in bid to lower runway temperatures

Trials have been conducted at Australia’s Adelaide Airport in conjunction with state-owned utility SA Water. The results have shown that planting lucerne around runways can drop air temperatures by more than 3°c on warm days and therefore improve the performance of departing air planes. This is a world-first project which is expected to generate strong interest from numerous airports in hot regions, especially those with busy long-haul schedules through the heat of the day. In warmer, less dense air, planes must travel faster down the runway to produce the lift needed for take-off. When a runway lacks the distance required to