Usage of Landing Mat as Overlay on Asphalt Runway during Military Field Exercises

This report describes four military exercises conducted at Oak Grove, N. C., in which XM18 landing mat was placed over a deteriorating asphalt runway to provide a landing strip for C-130 cargo aircraft. In the past, studies had been conducted at the WES on this subject; however, this was the first opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge on the behavior of the aircraft and the landing mat during a field exercise. This report is based on Memorandums for Record (MFR's) prepared for each of the exercises, which were conducted over a four-year period. Details of each exercise are described in the MFR's, which are presented in their entirety as appendixes in this report. The lessons learned that may be helpful in future installations of landing mat over asphalt are listed in the form of conclusions and recommendations. This report should prove to be a valuable aid to a unit commander responsible for installation of landing mat over asphalt pavement.