What is Tarmac?

Tarmac (short for tarmacadam, or tar-penetration macadam) is a type of road surfacing material patented by Edgar Purnell Hooley in 1901.



Hooley’s 1901 patent for Tarmac involved mechanically mixing tar and aggregate prior to lay-down, and then compacting the mixture with a steamroller. The tar was modified by adding small amounts of Portland cement, resin, and pitch

Despite the constant use of the word ‘tarmac’ to describe the area of an airport where aircraft are parked, unloaded or loaded, refueled, or boarded. There is no Tarmac on an Airport !!

Why is there no tarmac?

The actual tarmac was superseded by asphalt which is commonly used for airport pavement, but concrete (often referred to as PQ (Pavement Quality) concrete) is even more common, particularly at larger airports where heavy airplanes operate.

It’s called an Airport Apron ! Not a tarmac.

(Sources : http://macsblog.com/2012/05/there-is-no-tarmac-on-an-airport/



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarmac)

