DFWHeavy From United States of America, joined Jul 2011, 484 posts, RR: 0 Posted (1 year 10 months 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 4230 times:
I'm wanting to know how accurate the "1,000 ft" distance runway markers are.
For example: If you have an 8,500 ft runway and you line up to take off, the first number you would typically see is "7" for 7,000 ft remaining, which means there is 1,500 ft between you and the first number.
However, if you were to turn around, the last number you would see would still be "1" or 1,000 ft, but yet it would actually have to be 1,500 ft.
So how accurate are runway distance markers? How do you compensate for the example I listed above. Every runway that isn't exactly 6,000, 7,000, 10,000, 12,000, etc would have this problem.
tdscanuck From Canada, joined Jan 2006, 12709 posts, RR: 80 Reply 1, posted (1 year 10 months 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 3949 times:
Quoting DFWHeavy (Thread starter): For example: If you have an 8,500 ft runway and you line up to take off, the first number you would typically see is "7" for 7,000 ft remaining, which means there is 1,500 ft between you and the first number.
However, if you were to turn around, the last number you would see would still be "1" or 1,000 ft, but yet it would actually have to be 1,500 ft.
If you turned around, wouldn't the back of that sign just be black and there be another sign on the other side at the correct location for that number?
kcrwflyer From United States of America, joined May 2004, 3637 posts, RR: 7 Reply 3, posted (1 year 10 months 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 3885 times:
Quoting tdscanuck (Reply 1): If you turned around, wouldn't the back of that sign just be black and there be another sign on the other side at the correct location for that number?
Quoting DFWHeavy (Thread starter): So how accurate are runway distance markers? How do you compensate for the example I listed above. Every runway that isn't exactly 6,000, 7,000, 10,000, 12,000, etc would have this problem.
Well they can't be perfect... Our runway is 6300ft. so I'd say you have 150 more ft available than what each marker says. I'd assume they do them the same way at all airports.. just splitting the difference in the length above the even thousand.
Do any airports have them on both sides of the runway for each direction?
spacecadet From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 3277 posts, RR: 14 Reply 4, posted (1 year 10 months 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 3827 times:
DFWHeavy From United States of America, joined Jul 2011, 484 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (1 year 10 months 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 3693 times:
No, it isn't that simple. If you have a 9,500 ft runway, there will be 8 numbers; however, one of them has to be more than 1,000 ft apart, presumably the distance between of of the last ones and the threshold of the runway.
If it was "simple", then you would have 9 1/2 number.... and you don't! Think about it before responding.
qf002 From Australia, joined Jul 2011, 2604 posts, RR: 1 Reply 6, posted (1 year 10 months 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 3666 times:
Quoting DFWHeavy (Reply 5): If it was "simple", then you would have 9 1/2 number.... and you don't! Think about it before responding.
But the '9' isn't right at the end of a 9,500ft runway, is it? I always thought that there was just a bit of slack at the end (ie it's within the 9-10 zone, but there's no '10' because it's off in the distance) and the markers were always at 1,000ft intervals...
cubsrule From United States of America, joined May 2004, 21286 posts, RR: 19 Reply 7, posted (1 year 10 months 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 3653 times:
With respect to 9,500 foot runways, it's a silly question, as there are (correct) markers for both directions.
But what about a runway that is 9,001 feet, 9,005 feet or 9,050 feet? I believe those runways WILL have only one set. There must be a cut-off somewhere.
I can't decide whether I miss the tulip or the bowling shoe more
pilotfox From United States of America, joined Feb 2006, 542 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (1 year 10 months 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 3595 times:
"The method chosen should be based on cost considerations and adaptability to the specific airport configuration. When using the preferred method or alternate method #2 for runway lengths that are not an exact multiple of 1,000 feet, one-half of the excess distance is added to the distance of each sign from each runway end. For example, for a runway length of 6,500 feet, the excess distance is 500 feet and the location of the last sign on each runway end is 1,000 feet plus 1/2(500) or 1,250 feet. If a sign cannot be installed at its standard location, a tolerance of +50/-0 feet is allowed for that sign. The sign should be omitted if it cannot be installed within this tolerance"
More info is in FAA AC 150/5340-18F STANDARDS FOR AIRPORT SIGN SYSTEMS
DFWHeavy From United States of America, joined Jul 2011, 484 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (1 year 10 months 4 days 12 hours ago) and read 3553 times:
Thank you pilotfox.
For the people above. What I meant when I said "turn around" is, if you go to the first marker and turn around there would be a "1", but it is more than 1,000 ft.
So either one of the marker's at either end is off or they would all be off slightly to compensate. Pilotfox gave us more accurate information and I thank him for that.
cubsrule From United States of America, joined May 2004, 21286 posts, RR: 19 Reply 10, posted (1 year 10 months 4 days 12 hours ago) and read 3518 times:
Quoting DFWHeavy (Reply 9): What I meant when I said "turn around" is, if you go to the first marker and turn around there would be a "1", but it is more than 1,000 ft.
But, again, on a 9,500 foot runway, that's not true in most cases.
I can't decide whether I miss the tulip or the bowling shoe more
Maverick623 From United States of America, joined Nov 2006, 4779 posts, RR: 6 Reply 12, posted (1 year 10 months 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 3249 times:
Quoting DFWHeavy (Reply 5): Think about it before responding.
A friendly note: you are asking for help and advice. It would be nice to be a little more polite and patient, especially when your posts contains incorrect assumptions.
No, it isn't that simple. If you have a 9,500 ft runway, there will be 8 numbers; however, one of them has to be more than 1,000 ft apart, presumably the distance between of of the last ones and the threshold of the runway.
Not every airport uses the same signs for both directions, and for the ones that do, pilotfox explained the limitations.
Also:
Quoting DFWHeavy (Reply 11): in that they are not really all that accurate. I consider accurate withing a couple feet of 1,000.
Runway markers are visual indicators to back up already known performance calculations, themselves having built-in margins. Visual indicators have limitations to their usefulness, hence why minimums are generally higher for visual approaches than for instrument approaches.
Since performance parameters will be slightly inaccurate (you simply cannot calculate exactly how your brakes are going to perform, nor exactly how much thrust your engine(s) will produce), you do not need such a high amount of accuracy in a visual indicator of runway length remaining. It's just like in math and significant figures: you can only be as accurate as your most inaccurate number.
Gunsontheroof From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 3462 posts, RR: 11 Reply 13, posted (1 year 10 months 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 3196 times:
This might be better off in tech/ops--lots of the brainy folks over there don't venture into civ-av and might be able to elaborate further!
Maverick623 From United States of America, joined Nov 2006, 4779 posts, RR: 6 Reply 15, posted (1 year 10 months 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 3141 times:
Quoting BMIFlyer (Reply 14):
On a 9500 ft runway, the first sign will be 500 ft from the end and will be a 9 - so 9000ft remaining.
The 500ft area you just started from is not really relevant.....
To make it easier, count from the opposite end of the runway to where you start your takeoff roll from
Yes, but some airports use both sides distance marker signs, even when the runway is not exactly x-thousand feet long.
vikkyvik From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 8313 posts, RR: 28 Reply 16, posted (1 year 10 months 4 days ago) and read 3045 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW PHOTO SCREENER
Quoting tdscanuck (Reply 1): If you turned around, wouldn't the back of that sign just be black and there be another sign on the other side at the correct location for that number?
Depends on the airport. Some airports (actually most that I've seen, I think) only have them on one side of the runway, so they are double-sided signs.
Then there are airports like BOS that have double-sided signs on BOTH sides of the runway.
From the AC that pilotfox posted:
Preferred Method. The most economical installation consists of double-faced signs located on only one side of the runway. Where this method is used, the signs should be placed on the left side of the runway as viewed from the most often used direction. However, the signs may all be placed on the right side of the runway where necessary because of runway/taxiway separation distances or conflicts between intersecting runways or taxiways.
Quoting BMIFlyer (Reply 14): On a 9500 ft runway, the first sign will be 500 ft from the end and will be a 9 - so 9000ft remaining.
If you use the Preferred Method or Alternate Method 2 per the AC, then you wouldn't have a "9" sign on a 9500 foot runway.
Quoting DFWHeavy (Reply 11): Which would answer my original question, in that they are not really all that accurate. I consider accurate withing a couple feet of 1,000.
I would say that "accuracy" in this case would mean whether the signs were installed according to the FAA's (or whatever regulatory body's) policies.
As it stands now, in general, you'll never have a "1" marker CLOSER to the threshold than 1000 feet. It could be up to 499 feet farther from the threshold, if I read correctly. And then all the signs between the "1" at either end would be 1000 feet apart (+50/-0 feet).
Now of course, I can immediately come up with a counterexample - BOS's runway 22R. The 1000 foot remaining marker is less than 1000 feet from the far threshold. But that was probably just installed before these regulations came into effect.
[Edited 2011-08-19 19:01:34]
[Edited 2011-08-19 19:02:12]
"Two and a Half Men" was filmed in front of a live ostrich.
ThirtyEcho From United States of America, joined Dec 2001, 1635 posts, RR: 1 Reply 17, posted (1 year 10 months 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 2973 times:
If a "couple of feet" is crucial in your takeoff then you are flying a B-25 off the deck of the Hornet in 1942.
PGNCS From United States of America, joined Apr 2007, 2518 posts, RR: 44 Reply 18, posted (1 year 10 months 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 2901 times:
Quoting DFWHeavy (Reply 11): Which would answer my original question, in that they are not really all that accurate. I consider accurate withing a couple feet of 1,000.
What exactly are you going to do with this super accurate (+/- 2') data when you are whizzing past these signs at 160 knots on the departure roll? Maverick623 made all the points that need to be made on the subject. Thank you also pilotfox for posting the relevant information.
Quoting ThirtyEcho (Reply 17): If a "couple of feet" is crucial in your takeoff then you are flying a B-25 off the deck of the Hornet in 1942.
Well said!
Computerized performance numbers are good at getting theoretical distances awfully close to BFL these days!
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