The ITD Central Lab’s paint waste is Aero’s treasure

Safety is a top priority, especially when it comes to maintaining Idaho’s 32 backcountry runways. Clear markings are important to help pilots land safely so they can enjoy the great outdoors of the Gem State. ITD’s aviation department is responsible for maintaining the runways and ensuring that these markings are clearly visible from the sky. This includes a fresh coat of white paint every five years.

Aero Craftsmen Justin Fort and now-retired Joe Fleck worked with D3 foreman Jerry Richards to obtain paint from ITD. They found that after testing, Central Labs disposes of about 60-70 gallons of paint each year. While it costs $20 to purchase a gallon of paint for Aero, it costs Central Labs about $200 to dispose of a 5-gallon bucket after testing. It made financial sense for the lab to give excess paint to Aero instead of paying for disposal. Aero contacted Central Labs’ lead chemist, Rachel Owens, and decided to pick up the paint and use it at the airports.

“We painted four runways this fall, all with sample or test paint given to us by Rachel Owens from Central Labs,” Fort explained. “We collected and stored the test paint for over a year until we got ours in August of this year Got a new sprayer. Spraying the markings and segment circles at each runway only took two hours.”

By thinking outside the box, the two divisions save $4,520 a year by using paint that would normally end up in expensive trash.