New Surface Will Have Grooves To Prevent Water Accumulation

Brazilian airport operator Infraero closed the main runway at the country's largest international airport for repairs to improve safety.

According to Bloomberg, the runway will be closed at São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport for about two months while re-paving is completed.

The Brazilian government is still under pressure to improve its air traffic and airport system compounded by the country's worst air disaster July 17. As ANN reported, a TAM A320 overran a rain-slick runway at Congonhas Airport upon landing and 199 people were killed.

That accident is speculated to have been caused, in part, by water that had accumulated on the runway. The improved GRU runway will have grooves to prevent water accumulation.

Since the TAM Airlines disaster, aircraft has been diverted to Guarulhos, Sao Paulo's domestic airport. Planes will use the secondary runway at GRU, located about 15 miles from downtown Sao Paulo, until construction is completed.

The target date for completion of the $6.4 million project is October 10.

FMI: www.infraero.gov.br