AVIATION
Secure Your Airport's Future:
PFAS-Free AFFF Solutions Before Regulations Force Your Hand
Replace Legacy AFFF, Test for Contamination, and Remediate Fast – With Full-Service Expertise Tailored for Part 139 Airports
Why Airports Can't Ignore PFAS Anymore – And How It's Costing You
For decades, Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) has been the go-to for extinguishing Class B fuel fires at airports, mandated by FAA Part 139 standards. But AFFF is loaded with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – "forever chemicals" that don't break down and are linked to serious health risks like cancer and immune system damage. When used in training drills, emergency responses, or even minor leaks, PFAS seeps into soil, groundwater, and drainage systems, contaminating drinking water supplies and turning your airport into a liability hotspot.
The stakes are higher than ever. The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has delayed its full AFFF phase-out to October 2026 due to replacement hurdles, but FAA-certified airports must still transition to fluorine-free foams (F3) under updated Qualified Product List requirements. Legacy stockpiles and contaminated equipment – from tanks and piping to hangars – must be tested, decontaminated, or replaced, as AFFF is on track to be classified as hazardous waste. Delaying action means skyrocketing cleanup costs, FAA audit failures, and potential lawsuits amid exploding state-level PFAS bans in 2025.
Regulatory Pressure: DOD's January 2023 F3 specs demand compliance by 2026; non-transitioning airports risk fines and operational shutdowns.
Health & Environmental Risks: PFAS from AFFF has polluted aquifers near 1,000+ military bases – and civilian airports are next, endangering communities.
Operational Costs: Full equipment overhauls could run $500K+ per site; unaddressed contamination invites multimillion-dollar liabilities.
End-to-End PFAS Management: From Testing to Remediation, Built for Airports
We deliver specialized PFAS services designed for the unique demands of aviation environments – minimizing downtime, ensuring FAA/DOD compliance, and restoring your site to operational excellence. Our approach combines cutting-edge science with practical, airport-focused execution.
We offer comprehensive sampling and laboratory testing of firefighting foams, systems, and discharge areas to quantify PFAS and ensure compliance with FAA and EPA guidance.
System Decommissioning & Replacement: Safe decommissioning of legacy AFFF systems and transition to fluorine-free alternatives with full waste management and regulatory documentation.
Remediation & Cleanup: Investigation, containment, and treatment of PFAS-impacted soil and groundwater using proven and emerging remediation technologies.
Regulatory & Risk Support: Compliance planning, permitting assistance, and stakeholder communication to meet evolving PFAS regulations.
Sustainable Operations: Long-term monitoring and data management programs to maintain environmental performance and operational readiness.
With over 15 years at the forefront of PFAS science, we've helped 100+ sites – including high-stakes aviation facilities – navigate contamination from legacy AFFF to full compliance. We're not just consultants; we're your on-call team for everything from initial assessments to litigation support.
Your Airport's PFAS Partner: Proven Expertise, Rapid Response
Unmatched Experience
Leaders in PFAS research and regs; dedicated experts tackling aviation-specific challenges like equipment decon under tight FAA timelines.
True Full-Service
One seamless team handles assessment, design, remediation oversight, case closure – no fragmented subcontractors delaying your ops.
Collaborative & Responsive
We partner closely, communicating daily and deploying 24/7 for emergencies; 98% client retention proves our timely, cost-effective wins.
Certified Excellence
DOD-accredited labs, NELAC/ISO compliant; every solution aligns with EPA and FAA standards for defensible results.
Innovation Edge
AI-driven fate/transport modeling and next-gen F3 integrations keep you ahead of 2026 phase-outs.
Airports Like Yours Trust Us – See the Results
Don't just take our word – our track record with NV5's PFAS projects delivers measurable wins for Part 139 airports facing contamination pressures from legacy AFFF and emergency responses.
John Wayne Airport Improvements
Project Description
John Wayne Airport’s Capital Improvement Projects includes the rehabilitation and modification of building systems, security improvements, design and construction of new structures and other projects requiring engineering studies. As part of a five year on-call contract, PFAS-ES is providing on-call geotechnical engineering investigations and recommendations, as well as materials testing and inspection services including steel, concrete, asphalt, soils and other construction materials.
Value Added
PFAS-ES mobilized a geotechnical investigation to provide pavement design sections for several emergency pavement repairs required at the site. The investigations were mobilized quickly to perform the repairs prior to the rainy season. The pavement design recommendations were provided less than one week from the completion of the drilling.
San Diego International Airport On-Call, Environmental Services
Project Description
PFAS-ES conducted a comprehensive site-wide Phase I ESA, a Phase II ESA, supplemental Phase II ESA, and human health risk assessment for the San Diego Airport Support Facilities. The Phase II investigations comprised a total of 109 borings for the collecting of soil-gas, soil, and groundwater samples. Samples were analyzed for heavy metals, volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds, petroleum hydrocarbons, jet fuel, polychlorinated biphenyls, and PFAS. Included in the Phase II ESA report was a preliminary vapor intrusion health risk assessment to evaluate the potential risk to future building occupants to contaminated indoor air resulting from intrusion of subsurface soil gas.
Value Added
PFAS-ES recommended the performance of a detailed vapor intrusion human health risk assessment (HHRA) due to the borderline analytical results obtained during the site investigation that indicated a potential unacceptable health risk. The detailed HHRA indicated that some form of vapor mitigation was necessary to protect occupants of future structures at the airport, confirming our initial concern.
Ready to Take Action?
Deadlines like the DOD's October 2026 AFFF ban are closing in, but proactive airports are already PFAS-free and compliant. With our free risk assessment, you'll get a customized roadmap to test, remediate, and replace – all without grounding your operations.
Contact Us Directly
Email: PFAS@NV5.com
Phone: (703) 969-8023