If you have ever glanced out the window during a landing, you may have noticed that the runway bears long black streaks of rubber, predominately around the aiming point markers. The reason for this is because when a plane touches down the tires are not spinning and the time it takes for the tires to get up to speed is known as the “spin up time.” During this time the tires are dragging along the runway and being put under pressure by the weight of the aircraft. The friction built up causes the rubber to polymerize and harden to the runway surface. This hardened rubber decreases friction which increases the chance for aircraft to hydroplane, which is a large safety concern. The airport has a choice of methods to remove the build up of rubber.

One process is done with the use of a chemical that is sprayed onto the surface and scrubbed off utilizing a large sweeper. The second method is a combination of chemical spraying, moderate scrubbing, and rinsing using low pressure water. The third and final method is to solely use a high intensity water pressure system which takes more time, but is still very effective. In many cases airports will opt for the third method because it is the most environmentally friendly.