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ATL Taxiway Alignment Question

Christao17 From Thailand, joined Apr 2005, 890 posts, RR: 9
Posted (7 years 3 months 2 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 1207 times:

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Photo © Chaim Van Prooyen

This cool aerial photo of ATL brought a question to my mind that perhaps the experts on a.net can answer:

Why are the taxiways between runways 26L and 26R, and to the north of 26R, not aligned straight with the runways? Instead, they jog over near the ends of the runways.

If I recall, the old terminal at ATL used to be to the north (right side) of the picture, so perhaps that explain the northernmost taxiway, but what I've observed at most other airports with closely-spaced parallel runways is that the taxiways follow the same straight path as the runways.

Anyone care to shed some light on this?

Keeping the "civil" in civil aviation...

6 replies: All unread, jump to last

N774UA From Netherlands, joined Aug 2004, 343 posts, RR: 0
Reply 1, posted (7 years 3 months 2 weeks 20 hours ago) and read 1189 times:

My guess would be that it has something to do with the ILS sensitive area.

Regards
N774UA

...follow his instructions, switch off at the stand.

Christao17 From Thailand, joined Apr 2005, 890 posts, RR: 9
Reply 2, posted (7 years 3 months 2 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 1166 times:

Quoting N774UA (Reply 1):
My guess would be that it has something to do with the ILS sensitive area.

That was one of the possible answers I though of, but then I notice that the middle taxiway actually cuts over closer to the approach area of runway 26R, which is the primary landing runway (evidenced by the skid marks) on the north side of the ATL complex. If it gets closer to the runway at the approach end, I would think it more likely that it would interfere with the ILS sensitive area.

Keeping the "civil" in civil aviation...

RL757PVD From United States of America, joined Dec 1999, 4537 posts, RR: 13
Reply 3, posted (7 years 3 months 2 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 1163 times:

Quoting N774UA (Reply 1):
My guess would be that it has something to do with the ILS sensitive area.

That is correct, while not noticable in the picture, there are im pavement marking seperate form the runway hold position markings that identify this area on the ground.

Experience is what you get when what you thought would work out didn't!

73G From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 127 posts, RR: 2
Reply 4, posted (7 years 3 months 2 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 1098 times:

Quoting Christao17 (Reply 2):
I would think it more likely that it would interfere with the ILS sensitive area.

Actually, it would interfere with the ILS components. Look to the right of the 1000' markings on both 26L and 26R. See the grey, circular areas with the small white box in each of them? Those are the glideslope antennae. The taxiways have to be routed around those antennae.

DeltaGator From United States of America, joined Sep 2005, 6341 posts, RR: 16
Reply 5, posted (7 years 3 months 2 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 1093 times:

One other thing to consider is that the runways in ATL used to intersect and that the taxiways (more evident on the south side of the field) use some of the original runways. It looks more like the ILS issue on the northern side but might have a little to do with original placement of runways.

"If you can't delight in the misery of others then you don't deserve to be a college football fan."

Christao17 From Thailand, joined Apr 2005, 890 posts, RR: 9
Reply 6, posted (7 years 3 months 2 weeks 15 hours ago) and read 1059 times:

Quoting 73G (Reply 4):
Look to the right of the 1000' markings on both 26L and 26R. See the grey, circular areas with the small white box in each of them? Those are the glideslope antennae.

I see them - that makes perfect sense. Thanks for clarifying this.

Keeping the "civil" in civil aviation...

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