Alltrikes

"Common Dog" ... 01

Welcome to "Common Dog" number one. As the name suggests these articles are on topics with which we are all familiar. But you just never know, you may also have forgotten some of the details, so read on and fill your head with trivia.

A quick look at the Airfield Runway.

            Airfield, Airport or Landing Field.... It don't matter what you call it.... it’s just a place where you land an aircraft. But what do we need to know about this area in order to take off or land an aircraft safely. Let's look at a few things that I look for in a landing ground.

The Airfield runway:

What's it made of?... Well this is a good one. You can have a runway made of grass, gravel, dirt, or it could be sealed, which makes it all-weather.

What's the direction?.... This is known as the runway designation number, and just how was this number decided? It will depend on the Bearing (in Degrees Magnetic)! You will find a runway is labelled with two reciprocal numbers Like: 18 and 36, or 09 and 27. These are only four standard runway numbers which denote North, South, and East, West runways. So if North is 360 degrees and South is 180 degrees, why don't we use the full numbering system? There must be a very technical reason, mustn't there! No, not really, it is just less confusing to use the two-number system. For example, think about 011 and 110 degrees. This could be really confusing for a pilot making a radio call, or looking for an unfamiliar airfield. So drop the last digit, and you now have runway 01 and runway 11. If you give a radio call now, there is no confusion, or if you are looking for the airfield there should be no confusion on the layout angle. We also number runways in 10 degree increments going clockwise. So the numbering system goes like this..... 36, 01, 02, 03, 04 and so on. 10 degrees is shown as 01 and 100 degrees is shown as 10. The number are normally found either on the end of the runway just passed the piano keys (threshold makings) or on the side of the runway.

What are the other marks on the Runway?....

On the edge of the runway we should have BOUNDARY MARKERS. These are sometimes known as gable markers. The colour of the boundary marker should be white, for normal types of aircraft , but if the runway is for Helicopters the marker will be Blue, or for Gliders they will be Red, but you will find that on most private airfields they will be white. The shape? The normal boundary marker is a long rectangle, if you look at it from the end it is a triangle shape. However... on a private airfield they could be a white car tyre or a white bucket, ... or just about anything. The most important thing is to stay between the two sets of boundary markers. The Taxi ways and parking area is normally marked with yellow cone marker.

The Centreline?.... This is one of the most important marker on any airfield. As a pilot, the centreline gives you all the landing information you need on final. The centreline tells you if you are left or right of track. Or if you are too high or too low. The left and right bit is very obvious. But if you are too high the lines will appear longer, so if you are too low the lines will appear shorter. It's too easy, isn't it?

Displaced Threshold Markers?.... On a most airfield these markers will be denoted by a white line running across the runway with a number of white arrows pointing to the line. On private airfields they could be three white buckets or car tyres either side of the runway. The displaced threshold markers have been placed there for a reason. Perhaps the runway is unserviceable before the markers, or you will have a clear approach path only if you land after the markers. It is good to note that if the runway is unserviceable prior to the markers there should be white crosses indicating this.

Touchdown Zone Markings.... You will only see this marking on a major airfield. They are two white lines next to each other, either side of the centreline. If you see six white lines, three either side of the centreline you will also see the same pattern 500 feet further up the runway, where you will see four white lines, two each side of the centreline. You will another set 500 feet further on, and by the time you get to the end of the single white lines you have travelled 3000 feet.

Fixed Distance Marker....  These markers are a solid white panel either side of the centreline. Again these are really only used for large aircraft and you will only find them on larger airfields.

Taxi Lines.... If you are on a larger airfield you will note a yellow line next to the centreline. This line will be 60 metres long and will start to turn off the runway and onto a Taxi way. They are known as Taxiway guidance lines.

            Well, there it is, Common Dog 01.... Hope you found it worthwhile.

Just a last thought... After you touchdown and roll out to taxi speed, stay on the centreline because it gives you a better chance of being seen by another aircraft in the circuit.