Building Expertise, Preserving Quality: Future of Airfield Asphalt Certification

Many industries are challenged to find and keep qualified workers. The asphalt industry is no different. As seasoned inspectors and technicians advance in their careers or retire, it is essential to ensure a well-informed and qualified workforce remains in place to support the effective construction and maintenance of asphalt pavements.

In November of 2020, the Unified Facilities Guide Specification (UFGS) for military asphalt airfields was updated to require Asphalt Pavement Inspectors (API), Asphalt Laboratory Technicians (ALT), and Quality Control Managers (QCM) to hold certifications through the Airfield Asphalt Certification Program (AACP). The AACP was created to ensure the quality of military airfields built under the UFGS. The first round of courses began in January 2021 with the QCM course taught at the NCAT facility. Since then, over 500 certifications have been issued across the three courses.

The AACP maintains a searchable online database so that anyone can verify whether an individual’s certification is current.

This is an essential tool for government reviewers, contract staff, and contractors to ensure that qualified personnel are on projects. Each certification remains valid for four years, so individuals who were certified in 2021 need to renew now to remain eligible for working on military asphalt airfields.      

Launch of certification renewals

AACP renewal requires an in-person discussion centered on the UFGS and proficiency evaluation. The renewal courses are offered at NCAT and AI for their respective courses. Each is one day of lecture and discussion and includes a written exam, with the lab technician course also requiring a hands-on evaluation of specific aggregate and asphalt mixture tests required in the specification.

Renewal courses for QCM have been held in Alabama and Hawaii this fall, with an additional course scheduled for late 2025 in California. Renewals for the ALT were held in Alabama and Hawaii. Renewal courses for these two certifications will be offered twice in 2026.

Key UFGS updates

One of the reasons for requiring recertification is to remain up to date on the latest version of the UFGS. The most recent update was in May of 2022, which reorganized several sections to improve clarity
of the specification. Some other notable
changes include: 

• Required one-day pre-paving workshop.

• Simplified and clarified the smoothness measurements, with pay factors directly linked to longitudinal smoothness.

• Introduces 50 ft (15 m) grid spot elevation guidance for plan grade measurement and stricter corrective action rules.

• Established more explicit rules for weighted pay factors and removed/replaced the criteria for failing lots.

Another UFGS update is expected within the next year to address items such as using calibration factors for ignition furnaces, verifying JMFs, and monitoring G_se values during production. These changes have not yet been finalized but speak to the need for an in-person recertification course.

The staff at NCAT and AI have worked to ensure that the certified individuals are knowledgeable about the specific testing and inspection of our military airfields. We are updating the content to ensure it is engaging and impactful to the attendees. To learn more about the program, sign up for a course, or verify a certification, visit the AACP website at airfieldasphaltcert.com

Contact Travis Walbeck for more information about this research.