Have you ever wondered what the airport and runway markings mean? Here is a simple graphic tutorial that I hope can answer some questions that some may have.
“Why is this ‘taxiway’ is too narrow for my aircraft?” Chances are, it’s not a taxiway but a vehicle lane for airport vehicles. I have seen several planes try and taxi down these roadways mistaking it for a taxiway.
“Why are there different hold short lines?” This graphic explains the difference from a ‘regular’ hold short line and the ‘IMC’ (Intrument Meteorological Conditions), hold short line which keeps the aircraft further back from the runway in LOW VIS conditions.
I have also labeled some of the runway markings as well. I hope this graphic tutorial is helpful for anyone that may have had some questions regarding airport markings. See you in the skies!
MaxSez: Landing; Mains down “On the Numbers” was drilled into my head with an accompanying smack on the hard hat . Later it was “A One Wire Trap”, smack or a downer. Look at the skid marks, the “Threshold” is from the top keys to the double bars. Hit the bars and your “Long”, hit the overrun on a displaced rway or the keys, in my world, your short.
To keep things simple, IMC basically means when the weather is below minimums for VFR (Visual Flight Rule). In this case, for holding short (below 1200 ft AGL “Actual Ground Level”), visual minimums would be:
Daytime - 1 mile (statute) Visibility
Nighttime - 3 mile (statute) Visibility
If you cannot see an aircraft up to 1 mile out during the day and up to 3 miles out at night, that would be IMC weather. Basically weather in London region on a regular basis. LOL
LOL @Maxmustang, I’ll bring the popcorn to watch those “one wire” traps. Basically every 747 landing (I believe that 747s are all flown by former military/carrier pilots).
Another great tutorial Mark May I suggest a FAR/AIM reference in your tutorials for those that want to go above and beyond? After all your are the piloting voice of IF :)
Thanks, Mark. If only people should obey instructions. Yesterday, I had to go around on short final simply because someone was told to hold short, but they got on the runway.
And I also always known the big blocks to be the spot when the plane touches down. But is seems like someone has been misleading us here.
The first lines marked as “touch down zone” in your diagram should really be described as the start of the touch down zone, with the last of those further along marking the end of the touch down zone - i.e. you should be touching down somewhere in that zone… The aiming point is marked usually by the larger solid blocks.
Thank you. I am wondering if and when the developers will have direction signs on the taxiways of the bravo class airports?
That would add a lot of realism on taxiways and help pilots find their way to distant runways whose direction is not always easy to find especially in low visibility.
