My Airport Operations

Thermoplastic Surface Hold Position Signs KHOT - Hot Springs Memorial Field just had Thermoplastic SHPS installed. I was concerned about having the signs installed, not because of the product from AirMark because i wasn't sure about the contractor that was going to install them. It was a local painting company that was at best questionable. But the day we were going to start the installation my fears were erased, a Hi-Lite truck pulled into the...

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The FAA certification inspectors have come and gone and your airport passes with flying colors; your airport is squeaky-clean for another year!  But you know that's not entirely true. You know your airport better than anyone; you know where the issues are and you know the inspector just didn't catch them this year. With all due respect to the ACSI's, their inspections only last somewhere around one to four days.  Their talents and expertise must...

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Hello Airport Ops, The FAA Statement of changes to your airfield deadlines are coming soon, September.  Check out this link to see if the changes effect your airfield.  Click here to read the statement of changes!  

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Our Airport Maintenance Painters use a motorized cart but can't keep the edge of the lines straight.  Its easy to square up the ends with cardboard or roof shingles but the lateral edges are too long and they end up wavy and overtime begin to exceed the marking sizes.  For example my runway centerlines start to become 40 to 42 inches wide as opposed to the required 36 inches. Any suggestions.

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Our 2012 Airfield Marking Symposium Schedule has been released: SAN ANTONIO, MAY 14-16 NEWARK, JULY 9-11 DENVER, SEPTEMBER 17-19 DAYTONA BEACH, NOVEMBER 12-14 If you haven't been, give it some serious consideration. You'll see markings in a whole new light. Feel free to email me if you have questions. Mike Speidel

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During a recent runway resurfacing project at our GA airport, the topic of glass beads came up. It is not a Part 139 airport and we can not seem to find any guidlines for the use of glass beads in writing. I think that we would be wise to utilize them from a pure safety and liability standpoint. However, I was hoping to find something in writing from the FAA stating that they are required...

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    Here is the FAA Southwest Region Bulletin 2011-012 "Summary of Changes to FAA Marking and Sign Standards"         There are a few changes, that require the marking to be repainted with in 2 years. If you have questions contact   

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Hello MAO! Sightline's last Airfield Marking Symposium of the year is in Kansas City, MO, October 18-20, 2011. If you're responsible for inspecting the airfield for deficiencies (e.g. poor markings), you need to come to this symposium. How are you supposed to distinguish between a good marking and a poor one? You can find the answers you need and become an expert at identifying why a marking needs maintenance and how it should be done....

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Hello Ops! Sightline's next Airfield Marking Symposium is being held in Reno, September 12-14, 2011. It's real-world training based on the Airfield Marking Handbook from the people who wrote it - the only training of its kind. Here's what you can expect: Classroom training on the Airfield Marking Handbook. Field demonstrations including DYNATEST friction testing, AIRMARK preformed thermoplastic, STRIPE HOG waterblasting, ROBO-BEADER modified Graco Line Lazer, INSPECTION TECHNIQUES. The Reno Air Races follow the symposium....

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This is Mike Speidel with Sightline reminding you of the Airfield Marking Symposium being held in Boston, July 11-13, 2011. The AMS's are regional training courses for those involved with airfield markings including  engineers, operations, managers, maintenance, inspectors, etc. In essence, it's a two-day course, half classroom, half field demonstration. Each morning we cover the Airfield Marking Handbook in the classroom.  Each afternoon we have demonstrations in the field at the host airport: Surface Preparation...

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  CORPUS CHRISTI -- Before they ever take to the skies, every pilot that takes off from the Corpus Christi International Airport crosses a yellow "hold" line before heading out onto the runway. "It just tells the pilot to stop here; you're outside of the safety area. If a plane is landing or taking off they can continue to do so," Operations Manager Carl Gross said. Almost all of the taxi ways at the Corpus...

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Hello all, This is Mike Speidel with Sightline announcing (if you haven't already heard) our Airifeld Marking Symposium schedule for 2011. The AMS's are regional training courses for those involved with airfield markings including  engineers, operations, managers, maintenance, inspectors, etc. In essence, it's a two-day course, half classroom, half field demonstration. Each morning we cover the Airfield Marking Handbook in the classroom.  Each afternoon we demonstrate the following in the field: Surface Preparation and Paint...

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With only 53 square miles of airport here in Denver, we have designated a few areas wher we can park potential threat aircraft.  If we get word that a flight is inbound with a potential hijack or bomb threat, or any other potential 'bad' thing, we have several taxiways far enough away from the main terminal/concourse area that are to be used to park these aircraft. Back before 16R/34L, we only had one spot set...

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I know this subject has been beaten to death by everyone and we only have a few weeks left to have them completed. I would just like to share what I have learned over the event in having ours painted on by a contractor. 1. Make sure the contract fills in the stencil lines: 2. Make sure your beads reflect "RED" not "PINK" or "WHITE" 3. And with out really saying please make sure the...

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New durable preformed thermoplastic markings are approved for surface painted signs.  The material can be applied to concrete or asphalt and can last up to 10x longer than standard traffic paint.  I know what a hassle these are to install so if your airport is one of many needing these, consider learning more about this FAA approved product (AC150/5370-10E).

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Our markings for our 5/23 runway have rust stains bleeding through. The local paving company said the pavement has lots of iron pyrite. My question is how do you cover or stop the bleed through? So far the only answer I have is to just keep painting over them. They were painted 2 years ago. Has anyone ever had a problem like this?   Glen

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