For most of us , the sight of blue twinkle and yellow lines outside an airplane ’s window is the cue to deform our phones back on . For pilots , it ’s more like a secret language — a language that is vitally important to refuge and , progressively , plant with come forth engineering .
I was very recently on a sheet circling over LGA when I realized I had no idea what any of the pattern , colours , or letters on the runway really mean . Take the inflammation , for exemplar . In Dubai this month , Honeywellfinished upinstalling what it draw as the very first all - lead rails kindling system ; like the rest of the domain , airdrome are giving up their inefficient lightbulbs . Meanwhile , I — the average clueless and/or terrified passenger — couldn’t secern you whether a light on the runway was run or incandescent .
I wanted to know more about the mysterious language . AWired article from last yeargave a few hints , along with the amazing TumblrHolding Pattern . And it grow out that the Federal Aviation Administration keeps public guideline for all of these intention elements online . After digging into the FAA ’s list of text file and exploring in Google Earth , this is what I launch .
As a passenger , it feels like most pilots assay to come down as close to the bound of whatever seems to appoint runway as potential . That ’s definitely not the lawsuit — there ’s a language of personal credit line and indicators that avail archetype time their hint - down at the exact right moment . Most runways at major drome follow the same pattern , defined by the FAA ’s advisory on track markings , find right here as a PDF .
First , there ’s something visit the eruption inking pad : A eyepatch of what bet like runway , painted with yellow stripes or job , that ’s actually often not strong enough to take the exercising weight of the planer ( “ Your gear may poke through the runway!”exclaims one virtual training primer ) . It ’s never drive or down on , but it still dish an important use , since it ’s design to prevent the “ blast ” of vary jets on the runway from create bare or eroded patches on the land just before the runway . Basically , it ’s a runway band - aid , as you could see here at LGA :
set down on the bang pad ( which might undermine below the weight of a carpenter’s plane ) is what the primercallsa “ ruinous misplay . ” The runway proper begins with the threshold . This is just what it sound like — a phone number of flimsy , long line that are used to argue the width of the track .
Above it , you ’ll see the runway number and often a letter : Runway gens are watch by the “ near one‐tenth the magnetic AZ of the centerline of the runway,”says the FAA . Since there are only 360 degrees , runway numbers will only ever go up to 36 . What about the letter ? Well , the letter is add if there are two ( or more ) runway parallel to each other , to secernate from the point name . For example , here are three parallel runways at Midway in Chicago :
So we ’ve got four dissimilar types of markings already — all of which are n’t intend to in reality be down on . So where does the aeroplane touch down ? That would be somewhere that look comely inconspicuous , compared to everything around it : The six channel after the rail number .
Which leaves one remain interrogation : What the hell are those thicker white rectangles on every runway , like the ones view here in Tokyo ?
Those are in reality visual aides for pilots . They ’re yell the “ purpose points , ” and they ’re what the airplane pilot are supposed to be looking at when coming in for a landing place .
So , who decides on a typeface ? Again , that would be the FAA . All letters and numbers have to adhere to its careful guideline , which include everything from the carefully - proportioned dimensions of the characters to the “ 1 ” with a horizontal tip to avert disarray . All characters have to be 60 understructure high , except 6 and 9 — which can be 3 feet higher because of the fag end :
Another matter to keep an eye out for ? Markings that have been nail away . The FAA maintain nonindulgent rules about how paint or marking are remove — they’re absolutely never to be painted over , since the decay of the new mark might tire away to uncover infringe data . Instead , aerodrome have to sandblast or power lap the quondam blusher away and re - do it . Which explains the promiscuous - colored smirch or words you might see on the runway .
One of the things I was always curious about were the ruddy satisfying signs that seem to scatter every runway . It turns out those are a bit like stay planetary house — theFAA says theyindicate the “ holding position ” for a plane that ’s await to take off or get to the gate . The numbers are there to aid the air dealings controller align the approach and goings .
Update : CommenterTheHeadFLwrites with more information about these mark : “ Most of the red squares you have pictured are actually for the welfare of the pilot light , not really ATC . When you get to the entertain short line at a runway entrance , the violent pulley block will denote which runway you are about to enter . For example “ 18 - 36″. Runway 18 streak from leave to right field , and Runway 36 flow from right field to leave alone . ”
A black sign of the zodiac with a identification number , meanwhile , ordinarily correspondsto the bit of thou of feet leave on the track — a templet so that pilots know roughly how much outer space they have left . Anything painted snowy is book for the actual runway itself — while yellow is all about cab or , in some cases , no - go zones . And the yellow numbers and markings nigher to the airpot ? Those identify gates .
Which brings us back to the thing that sent me down this eldritch FAA criterion lapin hole : The lights . Though Dubai ’s new lighting system is relatively new - fangled , it still adheres to the same language as most runways .
Ponte1112
The kind of lights you ’ll see as a passenger depends on where you ’re sitting and what kind of plane you ’re in — if it has a nose camera , you ’ll be able to check out a lot more detail . If you ’re just looking out the window , the kind of light you ’ll see are primarily blue , which line the area where your woodworking plane is taxiing to and from the runway , or white , which refer the touchdown area and the center line .
Robert Adams
According to the FAA ’s guidelines , green lights up the brink , where the real runway starts , while red always means exactly what you think it means — do not go . You ’ll also notice white ignitor on the glide path , too , those distinctive myopic lines of light that lead off long before the runway . Those are call plan of attack lights , and they ’re the most powerful and significant lights for a pilot coming in to country .
Japhet Alvarez
The FAA also mentions a “ decision prevention , ” which it turns out is the name for the single , extensive line of light that flat preface the runway after the approach bars end . This was a feature I ’d always been curious about , but I could n’t regain a expectant description in the guideline . I turned to Flight Training , which hadalready done a neat job of explain these lightsin aviation parlance .
Frans Zwart
It turns out that they ’re placed as a sort of aide during a crucial moment in landing place : When the pilot transition from vaporize using the cockpit instrument to vaporize establish on what they see . FT explain :
As you count up to see the runway or approach light environment , you must , by default , take your eyes off the attitude indicator . If it ’s morose , showery or snowy , ( or the Thomas Kyd in back have their hands over your centre ) , you may have trouble key the lateral ( bank ) cues necessary to keep the airplane fell direct . The decisiveness bar ’s horizontal spread of bright white lights acts like an external attitude indicator , allow you with ocular bank consultation as you seek other runway cue .
Which brings us back to the original reason I got curious about runway ignition : The increasing use of LEDs on track . While Dubai and many other airdrome have change over over to LED — cite efficiency , durability , and even visibility — not everyone agrees they ’re well . Stateside , some pilot havecomplained that light-emitting diode are blind and causing trouble during landings .
I asked a commercial-grade airline pilot describe Chris Manno , who runs the blogJetHead , about the phenomenon . Manno had a completely different take on LED . “ I ’ve heard that , but I do n’t agree , ” he told me . “ It can be a little bit of an vexation , but it does n’t cause a problem , and in fact , I think they ’re an improvement over the old lights . ” Manno say that the lights are brighter in foggy conditions , and they make it much comfortable to regain the rails . “ We ’re set about to commute the aircraft landing and cab lights because it ’s so much good , ” Manno summate .
It seems like the reports of raw runway light blinding pilots were magnified — and the fact that it was a arguing at all tells us a stack about how life-sustaining all these seemingly trite systems are in keeping global air travel dealings in order .
When millions of flight from one C of countries take off and body politic every calendar month , developing a stock vernacular that every pilot burner can learn is dead all-important . So yeah — it ’s just a crew of lines and numbers . But it ’s also the lingo that helps keep you , and everyone else , on path .
Comment below to tell me what I ’ve missed or what other significant elements we should depend for .
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