Journal article
Developing a practical and theoretical transition from Pavement Classification Number to Pavement Classification Rating for regional airports
Australian Journal of Civil Engineering, Vol.Advanced access
18-May-2026
Abstract
The strength of all registered airport runways is managed through a system referred to as ACN-PCN. The International Civil Aviation Organisation is replacing ACN-PCN with a new system, known as ACR-PCR. The transition from runway PCN values to PCR values requires airports to consider the basis of the current runway PCN, the thickness, composition, and associated strength of their runway pavement. Many of the regional airports do not have adequate resources to transition from PCN to PCR in a robust manner. These regional airports require practical support and a theoretical method for estimating a PCR, from the current PCN. This research developed a theoretical method for estimating PCR from published PCN values, based on a correlation between aircraft ACN and ACR values, for aircraft applicable to regional Australian airports. The correlation between regional aircraft ACN values and ACR values provides a reasonable basis for the transition, without the need for expensive pavement testing. It was concluded that although a first-principles approach to the transition from ACN-PCN to ACR-PCR is preferred, the use of the developed, regional airport specific, correlation is better that not transitioning at all, and it comes at no financial burden to regional airports.
Details
- Title
- Developing a practical and theoretical transition from Pavement Classification Number to Pavement Classification Rating for regional airports
- Authors
- Greg White (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast
- Publication details
- Australian Journal of Civil Engineering, Vol.Advanced access
- Publisher
- Taylor & Francis Australasia
- DOI
- 10.1080/14488353.2026.2675113
- ISSN
- 2204-2245
- Copyright note
- © 2026 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. The terms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent.
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991231424602621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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