Airfield Asphalt Certification Program

Having qualified inspectors and technicians perform quality assurance measures is a critical component of asphalt paving. Although state DOTs have asphalt certification programs to meet this need, there haven’t been nationwide or international programs to train and certify individuals for airfield pavements. Airfield specifications routinely reference ASTM D 3666: Responsibilities and Duties of the Agency, which requires that inspectors and technicians obtain proper certification. Airport project owners have commonly relied on state certification programs to meet this requirement, but there are important differences between paving for roadways and airport runways.  

About a decade ago, Dr. Ray Brown of NCAT conceptualized one of the first military airfield paving certification programs, but there was no industry requirement or incentive to complete the training. In November 2020, an update to the asphalt paving sections of the Unified Facilities Guide Specification (UFGS) added the requirement for certified quality control project team members. Contractor submittals now require certifications for asphalt paving inspectors, asphalt laboratory technicians, and quality control managers. These certifications can be obtained through the newly formed Airfield Asphalt Certification Program (AACP) which is overseen by a management group of asphalt experts with experience in airfield paving who meet twice a year to guide the program. 

AACP offers three certifications that align with the requirements in ASTM D 3666: Asphalt Pavement Inspector, Asphalt Laboratory Technician, and Quality Control Manager. This program is intended to increase the quality of construction on military airfields by providing the knowledge to the team members for successful airfield asphalt projects.  Each course is offered quarterly or can be conducted onsite for companies or organizations outside of the regular schedule. 

The Airfield Asphalt Laboratory Technician course is conducted at NCAT over three-and-a-half days of training that includes hands-on evaluations of QC tests and a written examination. Each attendee must also meet prerequisites of three years of experience and/or education. 

The Airfield Asphalt Pavement Inspector course is taught at the Asphalt Institute in Lexington, Kentucky. This course includes a written examination to gauge the knowledge of participants as well as minimum requirements of two years of experience or education.  

The Airfield Asphalt Quality Control Manager course requires that the individual have one of the other two certifications (this prerequisite was waived for the first year of courses) and four years of education and/or experience. This course is conducted at NCAT and covers the UFGS specification in detail over two days with an exam held on the third day. Administration of the specification regarding lot sizes, QC testing, acceptance testing, and calculation of final pay are all included in the instruction and exam.  

Since the first course was held in January 2021, 119 individuals have attended one or more of the courses. There are currently 62 certified QC managers, 36 paving inspectors, and 35 lab technicians made up of contractors, consultants, and government employees. 

Upcoming course dates, prerequisite requirements, and course descriptions are available at airfieldasphaltcert.com. All registrations are handled online, and there’s also a searchable database that allows anyone to verify the status of an individual’s certification on the website. 

For more information about this article, please contact Travis Walbeck.