PSP (Metallic Panels)- Request your contribution

[ASIAN FROG]

Hello,

I have a technical problem to solve on an airfield used 25 years ago by USAF. A tarmac is made with those metallic plates (PSP), the "PSP" are rusty but seem in workable condition for General aviation particularly a Flying School. I have seen on old photos that the Tarmac was black.
My questions are:
Has anybody information about maintenance of those PSPs? Have they to be painted and do we need any specific paint? What is the method used to take out the grass (Any specific chemical weed killer -compatibility with those iron plates?)
if we put a layer of concrete or asphalt what are the risks of cracks?
Any experience on utilisation and maintenance appreciated.
Thanks for your help

[Arm out the window]

It may be of no use at all, but PSP stands for Perforated Steel Planking, which might help if you're searching for info on it.
Have seen it around, but don't know much about it in detail.

[parabellum]

Used to land on it in a BAC1-11 at Salalah, (Oman), Grass growing up in between would help to stabilise it, if you covered it with a solid surface you would need to excavate underneath as well and use it as reinforcement only, just spreading concrete etc. on top would lead to cracking. PSP used widely during WW2 for urgently required airstrips. After heavy rain an inspection required to ensure no big holes have formed underneath.
Sorry, very little by way of technical reference here but hope it helps a bit!

[Green Flash]

Maybe a posting on @rse might ellicit a response from the RE's? They used to lay miles of the stuff for the Harriers. Also for ABDR.

[ASIAN FROG]

Thank You Parabellum,
It confirms what we were feeling: we cannot add a layer of concrete or asphalt on the surface, it will crack. The underneath layers have been done seriously after a good preparation and does not seem to move, but what about grass and painting?
This Thai airfield has been used during Vietnam war during ten years, all the photos show this area as black and apparently no grass in the holes. We have still a stock of PSP (Pierced Steel Plank) for repairing during several years.
We are going to open a Flying school on this airfield (light aircraft like Diamond 40/42).
Any more information appreciate
TQ

[ARINC]

PSP = Pierced Steel planking... surely..?

PSP "runways" were erected/layed by Army engineers prior to all Harrier detachments in the field to unprepared sites. Hover pads were also layed using the same stuff. The planks were pierced with long steel stakes to keep them from blowing away. Didn't always work !

From memory they were zero maintainence items not even painted simply galvanised steel sheets with lots of holes.

[FJJP]

It's Pierced Steel Planking.

You might wish to contact the Army Royal Engineers at their base at Waterbeach Barracks in England [near Cambridge] - I know for a fact that they routinely install PSP when setting up Harrier hides in the field. Talk to Staff Sergeant/Warrant Officer level for best advice.

http://www.army.mod.uk/royalengineers/org/specialist.htm

http://www.army.mod.uk/royalengineers/org/12bde/index.htm

Also you might get some first hand correct advice if you go onto the British Army equivalent of PPrune [ARmy Rumour SErvice], REME forum.

http://www.arrse.co.uk/cpgn2/Forums/viewforum/f=29.html

[Pontius Navigator]

The PSP I have seen, used as sand tracks for vehicles, is often painted in a 'local' colour. Sand brown or pink for desert use, green for Europe etc. Where camouflage was not important it was bare metal.

One paint that might be relevant for wet conditions would be anti-skid. If you are likely to be operating on a wet runway then a painted friction surface would be useful.

As for grass growing through, what is different from a grass strip? Vehicles will keep it short from crushing and you could cut the edges the same way as you would on non-psp.

[ASIAN FROG]

Thanks to everybody.

[Filthy]

Used PSP recently factors to consider are:

PSP is used to meet the PCN requirement for natural surface strip where otherwise it would not be met.

NOT good in the wet if you are strip limited for landing or take off (consider the aborted take off case)

DO NOT paint.

DO NOT allow large amounts of grass to grow through use non corrosive suppresant.

Hope this is of help