Centerline Lights and Markings

[atracnitrix]

So I was flying with a pilot the other day that mentioned that the "actual" centerline for a runway with centerline lights were the actual centerline lights and that the centerline markings are offset to the side of centerline toward the terminal. Anybody know if this is correct? Any sources? I've found AC's
150/5340-30E and 150/5340-1L but never saw anything about the offset being toward the terminal side.

Just a question that has been bugging me for the last week...

 

[T/O w/FSII]

The real question should be "who cares?"

 

[JordanD]

The real question should be "who cares?"

Don't tell the FAA, they'll probably put it in a written test.

 

[fholbert]

So I was flying with a pilot the other day that mentioned that the "actual" centerline for a runway with centerline lights were the actual centerline lights and that the centerline markings are offset to the side of centerline toward the terminal. Anybody know if this is correct?

Makes it a lot easier to repaint the center line? Don't need to mask off the lights.

 

[TFaudree_ERAU]

True

 

[BobDDuck]

The lights are normally on the side of any high speed exits (unless of course there are high speeds on both sides of the runway) The markings are on the center of the runway.

No source. Sorry.

 

[fholbert]

Because the painted center line is for airline pilots and the lighted center line for others?

 

[atracnitrix]

Because the painted center line is for airline pilots and the lighted center line for others?

I can dig it!

 

[Roger Roger]

Makes it a lot easier to repaint the center line? Don't need to mask off the lights.

I assume it's so you can take off and land using the painted centerline without the bump bump bump of the lights.

 

[desertdog71]

I assume it's so you can take off and land using the painted centerline without the bump bump bump of the lights.

I prefer it without the bumps myself.

 

[Joshwa]

Few things irritate me more on T/O than guys who just roll over the lights all the bloody way to Vr

I should also say, great question, but I'm not a good enough pilot to distinguish between landing on the lights or the painted line. As long as they're both roughly equidistant and the USGS doesn't sense my touchdown I'm pretty happy.

 

[N519AT]

Seems like one of those useless questions that a DPE likes to ask just to show that they know more than you do. Like what is the runway length required for an an airport to no longer be contained in a sectional. Yes, I got asked that on a checkride once.

 

[adk]

Few things irritate me more on T/O than guys who just roll over the lights all the bloody way to Vr

Few things make me happier than when the other guy doesn't realize I'm hitting every centerline light on purpose

 

[mastermags]

Seems like one of those useless questions that a DPE likes to ask just to show that they know more than you do. Like what is the runway length required for an an airport to no longer be contained in a sectional. Yes, I got asked that on a checkride once.

What's the answer?

 

[TFaudree_ERAU]

For what it's worth, I just got really bored in my hotel room and fired up Google maps and Photoshop. At my home airport, the stripes are in the dead center of the runway and the lights are offset from the line on the side away from the terminal.

 

[CFI A&P]

What's the answer?

8,063'. It's a math problem related to the scale of the chart and the symbol size.

 

[EIR]

It appears the center lines are centered with the lights offset.

 

[Bernoulli Fan]

8,063'. It's a math problem related to the scale of the chart and the symbol size.

That's almost the answer to the question I'm assuming he was thinking of. His actual question, though, leaves me mystified. Unless "contained" means "the runway is depicted inside a circle."

(8,069')

 

[FlyDutchman]

That's almost the answer to the question I'm assuming he was thinking of. His actual question, though, leaves me mystified. Unless "contained" means "the runway is depicted inside a circle."

(8,069')

Yup, it's stated in the legend I believe. Shorter and the runway is still depicted in a circle, longer and it becomes an outline of the runway. You only need one runway going over 8,069' to have all runway surfaces outlined.

 

[dustoff17]

As for the light positioning.....I'm out......

So I was flying with a pilot the other day that mentioned that the "actual" centerline for a runway with centerline lights were the actual centerline lights and that the centerline markings are offset to the side of centerline toward the terminal. Anybody know if this is correct? Any sources? I've found AC's
150/5340-30E and 150/5340-1L but never saw anything about the offset being toward the terminal side.

Just a question that has been bugging me for the last week...

I think the guy you were flying with was blowing smoke!
AC 150/5340-30G is most current but Para. 2.4.c states, "A runway centerline marking is located along the physical center of the runway width...blah, blah, blah....." The centerline is NOT offset, it is on the center (hence its' name).

The lighting may be on either side as long as it's parallel to centerline and within a certain distance. (See AC 150/5340-30)