The Miami-Dade Aviation Department (MDAD), in partnership with the Good Neighbor Policy of Virginia Gardens and Miami Springs, recognized the need to reduce noise levels at Miami International Airport (MIA). One of these noise level reduction programs was the modification of the central area blast fence at MIA. The blast fence now allows aircraft personnel to run-up the aircraft engines to approximately 95% of their full throttle at a distance of 50-feet away. This unique feature at MIA is an asset to aircraft mechanics who need to check the aircraft’s engine performance before it is put back into service.

The MDAD retained the engineering services of DPA to design the improvements associated with the central area blast fence. Some of DPA’s design challenges on this project included the following.

• Structural framing and deck design to withstand an aircraft engine only 50 feet away with a sustained blast velocity of 375 mph.
• Deck design able to withstand temperatures of 600 degrees fahrenheit.
• Rigid concrete pavement design to handle aircraft weight of 100,000 pounds or more.
• Rapid construction schedule due to the blast fence not in service during construction.