What happened to that centerline?!

A

Airport7

New Member
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Those of you at the larger (and some smaller) airports may have noticed a new marking which leads up to the runway hold bars. This is called an Enhanced Taxiway Centerline Marking. It's an additional method of alerting pilots and vehicle operators that they are approaching a runway. This is all part of a larger plan to decrease the frequency of runway incursions. Personally, I think it will help to some extent, but I'm not sure how much. What do you all think? Have you seen these? Are they helpful/confusing/worthless?
 
They have been at many airports I frequent for quite some time. I love them. Better yet are the flashing yellow lights at the hold short line some airports have.

I fly 95% the time at night, and snow, pouring rain, or simply faded paint can obscure the regular hold short line all too easily.
 
I like it, a nice defined area that doesn't "sneak up" on you. As always, a little bit of conservatism (new word) and less rushing to the runway will go a long way too (that goes for both pilots and ATC)
 
I'm really shocked that airports (especially at busier ones) are allowed to NOT have hold short wigwags either on the side, or embeded into the pavement. The side of runway ones are ok, but the embeded ones are great. There is NO WAY you won't see then. And then there are some busy places like Charlotte that have no hold short lighting other then the runway sign off to the side.
 
I dunno when the last time you were there was, but it's pretty normal to be about 25 in line for take off, and to routinely do 20 miles downwinds. That said, if they had the traffic skills of ATL or New York, you would only be doing 10 mile downwinds and be about 10 in line.
 
That's just it Bob, it isn't the traffic volume it is the controllers. Don't get me started on the whole ramp/ground thing!!! :crazy:
 
There is no ramp control. They just tell you to go and then it's a free for all. The taxi lines are "suggestions" of where you should be. It was actually pretty funny the first few weeks that AWAC (and then REP) started coming into CLT. They refused to leave the taxi lines on the ramp and the whole system pretty much collapsed. AWAC were pretty quick learners. I'm still waiting on the 170s to figure it out.
 
I think the enhanced centerline is great for low visibilty conditions. When you're taxing to the runway and can only see 10 or 20 feet in front of you, it's great to see those dashed lines coming up so that you can start to slow down and come to a smooth stop without overshooting the hold short line or coming to and abrupt stop at the hold short line.
 
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