1. 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. Best Practices for Airfield Markings March 4, 2010 33 rd Annual Airports Conference

2. Our Mission -  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. - Raise the Bar

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 2. What constitutes a “quality” marking? 3. When is a marking functional and when is it “unsafe”? is it “unsafe”? 4. What is a good application v. a poor one? 1.What can be done to increase the life-cycle of airfield markings?

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

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

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

8. FAA Call to Action 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. Enhanced airfield markings

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

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

12. Marking System Good Inspection Quality Glass Beads Quality Application Quality CoatingSurface Preparation

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

14. sweeping and blowing 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 blowing or by other methods as required to remove all dirt, laitance, and loose materials. [emphasis added] FAA Advisory Circular AC 150/5370, Item P-620 sweeping and blowing 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 blowing or by other methods as required to remove all dirt, laitance, and loose materials. [emphasis added] FAA Advisory Circular AC 150/5370, Item P-620  Standard surface prep definition :  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  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. Regular surface preparation will:

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

17. Paint Removal v. Surface Preparation

18. Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular 150/5340-1J “ 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.” Removal of Markings: Paint Removal

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

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

22. 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. Pavement Marking Removal Pavement damage can be subjective.

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 Surface Preparation requirements Materials and coverage rates Materials and coverage rates Equipment Equipment Dimension tolerances Dimension tolerances Straightness tolerances Straightness tolerances

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

29. Application Procedures – Best Practices  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.  A primer coat is applied to uncoated asphalt.  Equipment is well maintained.  Windscreens are used to prevent material displacement.

31. Achieving a Higher Standard  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. Be an Advocate

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

33. Questions...