Donna Speidel, President, Sightline Airport Marking Consultants

1. Best Practices for Airfield Markings March 4, 2010 33rd Annual Airports Conference Donna Speidel, President, Sightline Airport Marking Consultants Chuck Carneal, President, Safety Coatings, Inc. Ron Boeger, V.P. Sales, Potters Industries, Inc. Chris Brooks, V.P. Specialty Products, Flint Trading, Inc.

2. Our Mission - - Raise the Bar Assist airports by improving safety through longer-lasting, better performing markings. Train others to use the best methods and most suitable materials unique to each airport. Realize a more cost-effective, efficient marking system.

3. Sightline, LC (Airport Marking Consultants) is the author of the Airfield Marking Handbook. The project was administered by the Innovative Pavement Research Foundation under a Cooperative Research Agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration

4. Objectives of the handbook • What can be done to increase the life-cycle of airfield markings? 2. What constitutes a “quality” marking? 3. When is a marking functional and when is it “unsafe”? 4. What is a good application v. a poor one?

5. So What’s the Problem? • Coatings deteriorate gradually. • When to maintain is subjective. • Lack of maintenance compromises safety. • Excessive maintenance leads to paint/bead build-up. • Lack of preparation causes paint build up. • Lack of preparation leads to premature asphalt pavement failure. • Poorly applied markings lead to more frequent maintenance. • Marking deficiencies decrease situational awareness, compromising safety.

6. FAA Inspections are annual. Air Operations inspects runway for FOD several times per day. But who is checking the markings for effectiveness?

7. Lack of clear, distinct markings Function of airfield markings: • Guide the pilot to and from the runway. • Provide situational awareness. • Provide the only continuous visual aid. • Promote safety. Runway Incursions . . . especially under low-visibility conditions.

8. FAA Call to Action • Enhanced airfield markings Quality Application = “enhanced” All the efforts to increase visibility with black borders, glass beads and new designs are futile if markings are not applied well.

9. NAVAIDS Signs If a sign is unlit or broken, it gets replaced. Lights If a taxiway light is malfunctioning, it gets fixed. Markings But how do you know when the markings are “broken”?

11. Need for Performance Criteria • Specify results to be achieved. • Adopt measures to determine when markings require maintenance.

12. Marking System Surface Preparation Quality Coating Good Inspection Quality Glass Beads Quality Application

13. Surface Preparation Definition: Surface preparation is the cleaning of anything that would prevent the bond of the new coating to either the pavement or existing coatings.

14. Standard surface prep definition: Immediately before application of the paint, the surface shall be dry and free from dirt, grease, latents, or other foreign material which would reduce the bond between the paint and the pavement. The area to be painted shall be cleaned by sweeping and blowingor by other methods as required to remove all dirt, laitance, and loose materials. [emphasis added] FAA Advisory Circular AC 150/5370, Item P-620 • Recommended: The area to be painted shall be cleaned by waterblasting, shotblasting or other mechanical method to remove all loose and poorly bonded paint; and shall be followed by sweeping and blowing or by other methods as required to remove all dirt, laitance, and loose materials.

15. Surface Preparation Regular surface preparation will: • Prolong the life of the paint project. • Require fewer painting cycles. • Save the airport unnecessary expenditures. • Reduce interruptions for maintenance. • Save asphalt pavements from premature deterioration. • Prevent FOD from chunks of paint and beads.

16. Surface Preparation – Best Practices • Perform surface preparation before painting to remove: • Loose and poorly bonded paint. • Curing compound on new concrete. • Algae. • Rust discoloration. • Oily substances including jet blast residue. • Heavy rubber build up. • Waterblasting is best method for surface preparation. • Sweep, blow with air, or rinse with water after preparation. • Specify surface preparation as a separate bid item.

17. Paint Removal v. Surface Preparation

18. Paint Removal Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular 150/5340-1J Removal of Markings: “Pavement markings that are no longer needed should be physically removed by sand blasting, chemical removal or other means, not painted over. Painting over the old markings merely preserves the old marking, will require additional maintenance, and in certain conditions, can be misleading to pilots.”

19. Blacked out lines are: 1. Are misleading, especially at night. 2. Expedient, but demand more maintenance over time. 3. Add to paint build up.

20. Pavement Marking Removal Definition: • Pavement marking removal is the mechanical eradication of markings from the pavement to a specified degree. There are several reasons airports remove markings, and each situation requires different degrees (or percentages) of eradication.

21. Pavement Marking Removal All marking removal methods will leave a scar. Handbook definition: Scarring is removal of the texture with some exposed aggregate.

22. Pavement Marking Removal Pavement damage can be subjective. Handbook definition: Damage occurs when more than 25 percent of the depth of the nominal-size aggregate diameter is uniformly exposed across the pavement, and aggregate could loosen.

25. Pavement Marking Removal Best Practices Degree of removal is defined in specifications. Markings are removed, not “blacked” out. Equipment is specified based on conditions. The scar is thoroughly cleaned before painting. Test strips demonstrate capability of equipment and operator. Waste water and debris are contained and properly disposed of.

26. Chuck Carneal – Coatings Ron Boeger – Glass Beads Chris Brooks – Preformed Thermoplastic Donna Speidel – Application Best Practices

27. Application Procedures FAA AC 150-5370, Item P-620 Key Elements: • Surface Preparation requirements • Materials and coverage rates • Equipment • Dimension tolerances • Straightness tolerances

28. Application Procedures – Best Practices • Adequate surface preparation is performed. • Layout establishes guidelines for applicators. • Pointer systems are used for accurate placement of markings. • Markings are applied from 6 to 36 inches in a uniform film thickness in a single pass. • Two or more colors are applied simultaneously. • Glass beads are dispensed automatically with the coating for both truck-mounted and hand-operated machines. • Pressurized bead systems provide best distribution.

29. Application Procedures – Best Practices • Windscreens are used to prevent material displacement. • A primer coat is applied to uncoated asphalt. • Calibration of material guns is performed. • Close attention is paid to application rates. • Uniform, specified film thickness across marking. • Test lines are applied in appropriate areas or on tar paper. • Documentation of marking operations is maintained to record location, quantity, weather conditions, etc. • Equipment is well maintained.

31. Achieving a Higher Standard Be an Advocate Proper surface preparation is first step toward quality markings. Paint removal should be specified at a degree of removal relative to the purpose for removal. Materials should be selected based on the airport needs and environment. Higher performance standards must be implemented.

32. Achieving a Higher Standard Be an Advocate Certification of personnel applying airfield markings must become a standard. Attention to the details of application must be enforced. Maintenance criteria must be established. Markings must be recognized for the measure of safety they can provide.

33. Questions . . .