In 1956, British authorities began experimenting with grooving airport runways to prevent aircraft hydroplaning on wet surfaces. This method allows water to escape from the tire contact patch, significantly improving traction during landing.
NASA and the FAA began studying this technique in 1965. NASA research at the Langley facility identified an optimal groove pattern of 6 mm width and 6 mm depth, spaced 25 mm apart. Tests showed that this design increased friction on flooded concrete by approximately tenfold at speeds of 185 km/h.
In 1967, NASA conducted full-scale tests at the Wallops Flight Facility using a 1.36 km test track. These trials demonstrated that grooved surfaces allow aircraft to maintain braking efficiency comparable to dry conditions, whereas efficiency on ungrooved surfaces can drop to 20–30% of dry-run performance.
Following these findings, the technology was implemented at major US airports, including Washington, Kansas City, and JFK. Each location utilized different operational schedules for installation, ranging from nighttime closures to 15-minute intervals between flights.
The 1969 NASA report SP-5073 consolidated these research results, leading to the adoption of runway grooving into international aviation standards. Modern runways may also utilize porous asphalt or high-texture surfaces to manage water drainage and ensure safe aircraft operations.
