CIAL Inducts Rubber Removal Machine To Improve Runway Safety

26 Feb 2026 CW Team

Cochin International Airport Limited has strengthened its airside safety infrastructure with the induction of a state-of-the-art runway rubber removal machine called CleanJet. The machine has been pressed into service at Kochi to address the persistent accumulation of tyre rubber in the touchdown zone and to maintain runway friction. Each aircraft on touchdown deposits one point five pounds of rubber per tyre, and repeated deposits clog the cavities and microstructure of the runway surface over time.

Those deposits produce a highly polished, glassy finish that reduces runway friction and increases the braking distance required for aircraft, particularly in wet conditions. Anlon Technology Solutions, which manufactured the machine, noted that reduced friction effectively increases the runway length needed for safer landings when surfaces are slick. Airport officials reported that restoring the runway microtexture is essential for operational safety and relied on proven surface restoration techniques.

The CleanJet system uses high-pressure water jets operating at around 2,500 bar together with specially angled rotating discs to dislodge rubber deposits from the surface and microtexture. The loosened material is immediately suctioned into a waste-water tank, ensuring that no water or residue remains on the runway after the process. The configuration is designed to remove deposits efficiently while limiting the need for prolonged runway closures.

Airport management said the induction of the machine will support routine maintenance regimes and reduce the operational risks associated with low-friction runways, thereby improving the safety margin for arrivals and departures. The deployment forms part of broader efforts to maintain infrastructure standards and to improve the reliability of operations during seasonal monsoons. Engineers will monitor the effectiveness of the system and adjust maintenance schedules as required to sustain runway friction levels.

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