Feasibility of Reclaiming the Industrial Waste
Generated from an Aircraft Power Check Facility
JU-CHANG HUANG, Associate Professor
Department of Civil Engineering
University of Missouri-Rolla
Rolla, Missouri 65401
DONALD S. AUSTIN, President
Austin, Smith, and Associates, Inc.
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
INTRODUCTION
Early in 1973, the Kaneohe Marine Corps Air Station (KMCAS) on Oahu, Hawaii,
was confronted with both water and noise pollution problems resulting from aircraft engine
testing (power checks) and aircraft washing operations. Existing facilities were inadequate
to handle the variety of aircraft assigned to that station. Although there was a turbo-jet test
cell available at the base, its operation was limited to engines which could be dismantled
from the aircraft.
Because of this facility deficiency, the power check operation was conducted with the
aircraft sitting on the runway using portable equipment. Since no sound suppressor units
were used, the resulting noise level posed an occupational health hazard to operating
personnel and created a public nuisance for the neighboring residents. Considerable air
pollution was also generated by this operation.
Similarly, there was no centralized location for washing aircraft. Cleaning was
performed on paved areas scattered throughout the hangar complex. The waste water from
washing operations entered the storm drain system, from which it was discharged into
Kaneohe Bay. This waste water contained detergents and some petroleum products, and its
discharge into Kaneohe Bay violated the Hawaii State Public Health Regulations.
To abate noise, water, and air pollution problems from the engine testing operations,
OICC (Authority for Construction at KMCAS vested in the Officer in Charge of
Construction, Mid-Pacific Naval Facilities Engineering Command, hereinafter referred to
as OICC) planned to build a power check pad with a noise suppressor (which would also
contain a water spray system to scrub air pollutants from the engine exhaust) as well as a
centrally located aircraft washrack on the base. The original plan called for an industrial
waste treatment plant to handle the detergents and petroleum products anticipated from the
wash rack. For the power pad, the original intent was to use a fuel-water separator for
treatment and discharge all of its effluent into the storm drainage system without further
chemical or biological treatment. The floatable oil and fuel would be skimmed off and
collected in a storage tank. However, because the effluent might contain some emulsified
oils and detergents this proposed treatment method would not meet the discharge
requirement of the local water pollution control regulations.
Therefore, OICC decided to construct a water reclamation system using air-flotation
so that the treated effluent could be recycled for use in the next power check operation.
Austin, Smith and Associates, Inc. was requested to make a cost estimate for this system.
A detailed literature review was conducted to determine the availability of information
regarding water usage and waste production associated with the power check operation
using a sound suppression unit. The characteristics of the waste water and the design criteria
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