What Are Those Black Signs On The Runway? — Civil Aviation Forum

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What Are Those Black Signs On The Runway?

Flyboy80 From United States of America, joined Jul 2001, 1856 posts, RR: 3
Posted (9 years 10 months 3 weeks 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 2177 times:

What are the black signs on runways at Commercial airports that say number like 1 then 2 then 3 then 4...etc? Thanks for any help. I think this could go in tech ops, but its kinda a split so I put it in the Civil aviation ones. I figured someone would ask...
bri

my views expressed here are my own, and do not represent any company or organization

5 replies: All unread, jump to last

Dragon-wings From United States of America, joined Apr 2001, 3920 posts, RR: 0
Reply 1, posted (9 years 10 months 3 weeks 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 2149 times:

I think it's to let the pilots know how much runway is left when landing and taking off. Like 4 would be 4,000 feet.

Don't give up don't ever give up - Jim Valvano

B747skipper From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR:
Reply 2, posted (9 years 10 months 3 weeks 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 2156 times:

You probably mention the runway's "distance remaining" markers...
They actually count down 1,000 feet multiples of remaining runway.
6 would mean 6,000 remaining, 5 would be 5,000 feet, etc...
Not all airports do have such markings...
(s) Skipper

Yikes! From Canada, joined Oct 2001, 284 posts, RR: 1
Reply 3, posted (9 years 10 months 3 weeks 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 2048 times:

Mostly military aerodromes. Unfortunately. I think they are great references. But in this day and age of runway analyses and balanced fields i.e. go/no go takeoff speeds, the bean counters and the regulatory agencies deem these signs as completely unnecessary. In the old days, they could be used to monitor takeoff acceleration. Nowadays we have much better engine instrumentation and higher thrust engines.

So in the end, the signs would be nice to have but not all that useful given the reality of today's equipment and takeoff analysis data. Additionally, in most places in North America where winter snow is a factor, it would be an extra cost to keep the signs clear of snow not to mention lit all year round.

Ralgha From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 1614 posts, RR: 6
Reply 4, posted (9 years 10 months 3 weeks 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 1803 times:

You're assuming that only modern, sophisticated aircraft use runways anymore. Those signs are still useful for pilots of older, or less well-endowed aircraft. I wouldn't go so far as to say mostly military airports either. I've seen them at a large number of civil airports.

09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0

Yikes! From Canada, joined Oct 2001, 284 posts, RR: 1
Reply 5, posted (9 years 10 months 3 weeks 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 1762 times:

Should have said "Canadian" military airports still have 'em. Anyway, if the painted marks on the runway are accurate, one has a somewhat "digital" method of determining runway used/remaining. Big grin

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