What happened to that centerline?!

Airport7 · January 4th, 2008, 10:48

Those of you at the larger (and some smaller) airports may have noticed a new marking which leads up to the runway hold bars. This is called an Enhanced Taxiway Centerline Marking. It's an additional method of alerting pilots and vehicle operators that they are approaching a runway. This is all part of a larger plan to decrease the frequency of runway incursions. Personally, I think it will help to some extent, but I'm not sure how much. What do you all think? Have you seen these? Are they helpful/confusing/worthless?

Ian J · January 4th, 2008, 11:10

They have been at many airports I frequent for quite some time. I love them. Better yet are the flashing yellow lights at the hold short line some airports have.

I fly 95% the time at night, and snow, pouring rain, or simply faded paint can obscure the regular hold short line all too easily.

Dugie8 · January 4th, 2008, 11:20

I like it, a nice defined area that doesn't "sneak up" on you. As always, a little bit of conservatism (new word) and less rushing to the runway will go a long way too (that goes for both pilots and ATC)

BobDDuck · January 4th, 2008, 11:47

I'm really shocked that airports (especially at busier ones) are allowed to NOT have hold short wigwags either on the side, or embeded into the pavement. The side of runway ones are ok, but the embeded ones are great. There is NO WAY you won't see then. And then there are some busy places like Charlotte that have no hold short lighting other then the runway sign off to the side.

Dugie8 · January 4th, 2008, 12:33

Bob, did you just accuse CLT of being, cough, busy?

BobDDuck · January 4th, 2008, 14:05

I dunno when the last time you were there was, but it's pretty normal to be about 25 in line for take off, and to routinely do 20 miles downwinds. That said, if they had the traffic skills of ATL or New York, you would only be doing 10 mile downwinds and be about 10 in line.

Dugie8 · January 4th, 2008, 15:31

That's just it Bob, it isn't the traffic volume it is the controllers. Don't get me started on the whole ramp/ground thing!!!

BobDDuck · January 5th, 2008, 12:18

There is no ramp control. They just tell you to go and then it's a free for all. The taxi lines are "suggestions" of where you should be. It was actually pretty funny the first few weeks that AWAC (and then REP) started coming into CLT. They refused to leave the taxi lines on the ramp and the whole system pretty much collapsed. AWAC were pretty quick learners. I'm still waiting on the 170s to figure it out.

coa787 · January 7th, 2008, 16:04

I think the enhanced centerline is great for low visibilty conditions. When you're taxing to the runway and can only see 10 or 20 feet in front of you, it's great to see those dashed lines coming up so that you can start to slow down and come to a smooth stop without overshooting the hold short line or coming to and abrupt stop at the hold short line.

January 4th, 2008, 10:48	#1
Airport7 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 34	What happened to that centerline?! Those of you at the larger (and some smaller) airports may have noticed a new marking which leads up to the runway hold bars. This is called an Enhanced Taxiway Centerline Marking. It's an additional method of alerting pilots and vehicle operators that they are approaching a runway. This is all part of a larger plan to decrease the frequency of runway incursions. Personally, I think it will help to some extent, but I'm not sure how much. What do you all think? Have you seen these? Are they helpful/confusing/worthless?

January 4th, 2008, 11:10	#2
Ian J Old Skool Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Moving to TN... Posts: 5,881 Blog Entries: 7	Re: What happened to that centerline?! They have been at many airports I frequent for quite some time. I love them. Better yet are the flashing yellow lights at the hold short line some airports have. I fly 95% the time at night, and snow, pouring rain, or simply faded paint can obscure the regular hold short line all too easily. __________________

January 4th, 2008, 11:20	#3
Dugie8 Old Skool Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: KRST Posts: 1,819	Re: What happened to that centerline?! I like it, a nice defined area that doesn't "sneak up" on you. As always, a little bit of conservatism (new word) and less rushing to the runway will go a long way too (that goes for both pilots and ATC) __________________ Aircraft without engine(s) prohibited... -KMIA 10-9

January 4th, 2008, 11:47	#4
BobDDuck Old Skool Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Left Seat Posts: 5,554	Re: What happened to that centerline?! I'm really shocked that airports (especially at busier ones) are allowed to NOT have hold short wigwags either on the side, or embeded into the pavement. The side of runway ones are ok, but the embeded ones are great. There is NO WAY you won't see then. And then there are some busy places like Charlotte that have no hold short lighting other then the runway sign off to the side. __________________ TBJC08 The Gear Monkey The Gear Monkey Store

January 4th, 2008, 12:33	#5
Dugie8 Old Skool Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: KRST Posts: 1,819	Re: What happened to that centerline?! Bob, did you just accuse CLT of being, cough, busy? __________________ Aircraft without engine(s) prohibited... -KMIA 10-9

January 4th, 2008, 14:05	#6
BobDDuck Old Skool Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Left Seat Posts: 5,554	Re: What happened to that centerline?! I dunno when the last time you were there was, but it's pretty normal to be about 25 in line for take off, and to routinely do 20 miles downwinds. That said, if they had the traffic skills of ATL or New York, you would only be doing 10 mile downwinds and be about 10 in line. __________________ TBJC08 The Gear Monkey The Gear Monkey Store

January 4th, 2008, 15:31	#7
Dugie8 Old Skool Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: KRST Posts: 1,819	Re: What happened to that centerline?! That's just it Bob, it isn't the traffic volume it is the controllers. Don't get me started on the whole ramp/ground thing!!! __________________ Aircraft without engine(s) prohibited... -KMIA 10-9

January 5th, 2008, 12:18	#8
BobDDuck Old Skool Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Left Seat Posts: 5,554	Re: What happened to that centerline?! There is no ramp control. They just tell you to go and then it's a free for all. The taxi lines are "suggestions" of where you should be. It was actually pretty funny the first few weeks that AWAC (and then REP) started coming into CLT. They refused to leave the taxi lines on the ramp and the whole system pretty much collapsed. AWAC were pretty quick learners. I'm still waiting on the 170s to figure it out. __________________ TBJC08 The Gear Monkey The Gear Monkey Store

January 7th, 2008, 16:04	#9
coa787 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lakewood, Ohio Posts: 1,106	Re: What happened to that centerline?! I think the enhanced centerline is great for low visibilty conditions. When you're taxing to the runway and can only see 10 or 20 feet in front of you, it's great to see those dashed lines coming up so that you can start to slow down and come to a smooth stop without overshooting the hold short line or coming to and abrupt stop at the hold short line.

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