Paraburdoo Airport Asphalt Overlay

The Challenge

• High-stakes environment: Operational airport with strict aviation safety and compliance requirements.
• Regulatory complexity: CASA oversight, MOS 139 compliance, multiple regulatory touchpoints.
• Quality verification intensity: Every lot required survey verification, test record completion, formal hold-point approval.
• Coordination: Ongoing liaison with airport operations, contractor teams, multiple approval authorities.
• Documentation burden: Complete traceability required from design intent through to as-built verification.

MESCo’s Role

MESCo provided on-site QA/QC engineering support through a Site Engineer engaged directly by the principal contractor. The Site Engineer implemented MESCo’s management plans, project procedures, QA/QC frameworks, lot registers, and risk management systems. Daily coordination ensured that procedures were followed, quality criteria were verified, and documentation remained current.

Key Deliverables

• Project management plans (aligned to CASA/MOS 139 requirements)
• Customised QA/QC procedures for asphalt overlay and profiling activities
• Automated lot register management (100+ lots, real-time % complete tracking)
• ITP coordination and hold-point management (liaison with CASA and principal for approvals)
• Test record collation and verification (asphalt, profiling, survey data)
• Daily QA status reporting to principal
• Non-conformance logging and closure tracking
• Close-out documentation compilation and handover support

Outcome

• Zero audit findings on QA/QC documentation.
• All ITPs closed out on schedule with documented approvals.
• Master Defect Register completed with zero unresolved items at handover.
• Handover documentation accepted on first submission (no remedial requests).
• CASA compliance verified and certified.

Lessons Learned

• Early involvement in system design accelerates QA/QC execution.
• Well-designed management plans and procedures prevent rework. Automation of lot registers reduces manual admin and improves data accuracy.
• Daily reporting to principal builds confidence and surfaces issues early.
• Clear allocation of approval authority prevents delays. Integration of all systems — plans, procedures, frameworks, registers — ensures nothing falls through the cracks.