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Runway Stripes And Markings, Explained.

By Swayne Martin | 03/29/2022 | Previous | Next

How can runway markings help your everyday flying? Here are some great facts to know about the runways you land
on.

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Centerline Stripes And Gaps Make Great Distance Markers

Each runway centerline stripe is 120 feet long and 36 inches wide. The gaps between each stripe are 80
feet. 6 Ways To Perfect Your Landings
List | Corey Komarec | 08/05/2023
This is one of the best aids in determining your landing point, or how far you've floated down the runway. Remember
the FAA's ACS Standards for short field landings? Private pilot applicants need to land within 200 feet of their chosen
landing point. Commercial pilot applicants have tighter standards, and need to land within 100 feet of their
designated landing point.

For example, let's say you made the beginning of a runway stripe the designated touchdown point for a private pilot
short field landing. You need to land on that stripe, or within the gap beyond the stripe (120 feet + 80 feet). If
you remember the measurements, you can practice more effectively and execute more precise landings.

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The one major exception to this rule is obvious. Not all runways have perfect stripe lengths. According to the FAA,
"Adjustments to the length of the stripes and gaps, where necessary to accommodate the runway length, are made
near the runway midpoint." Below are two examples, showing how centerline stripes and gaps are adjusted towards
the runway's midpoint.

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Runway Number Height: Don't Land Short.

The runway's designation - the numbers identifying the runway direction - are 60 feet tall. If you're flying into a short
runway, leave yourself a margin of error. Don't land short!

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Threshold Markings For Runway Width

Have you ever wondered what the threshold markings mean on each runway? The number of markings represents
the runway's width. The threshold markings are 150 feet long and 5.75 feet wide.

They're usually found on runways with instrument approaches, and are required on runways serving approach
Category C and D airplanes. Threshold markings are also required on runways used by international commercial
transport. Here's a breakdown of what the number of threshold markings means:

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Runway Instrument Approach Category

Just by looking at a runway, you can tell if it has instrument approaches available. There's a lot that goes into each
specific marking, so check out the FAA chart below...

FAA

Aiming Point Markers

The runway aiming points (commonly called the 1000 foot markers) are a perfect target to descend towards, and you
should plan to touchdown on or just beyond them. If landing performance allows, having some of the runway prior to
your point of landing will ensure that you don't land short. There's rarely a time when landing on the numbers is safer
than landing near the aiming point. The aiming points are 150 feet long and 20 feet wide. If a runway is
shorter than 4,200 feet, the aiming points may be shortened to 100 feet in length.

In almost every case, following the VASI will give a single-engine piston aircraft more than enough room to land and
stop well before the end of the runway. It's much more likely for a single-engine piston to land short when aiming for
the threshold than to overrun the runway after touching down near the aiming points.
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What Else?
What else can runways tell you? Do you have any tips and tricks for other pilots? Tell us in the comments below.

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2 commentsSort by Newest

Add a comment...

Przemek Pilarski
Can you explain the
touchdown markings -
why there are three
stripes before aiming
Point, than after it two and
one - what it s mean ?
Like · Reply · 1 · 1y

Delane Schieferstein
If the runway is wet,
braking could be
affected!!!
Like · Reply · 1y

Facebook Comments Plugin

Swayne Martin
Swayne is an editor at Boldmethod, certified flight instructor, and a First Officer on the Boeing
757/767 for a Major US Carrier. He graduated as an aviation major from the University of North
Dakota in 2018, holds a PIC Type Rating for Cessna Citation Jets (CE-525), is a former pilot for
Mokulele Airlines, and flew Embraer 145s at the beginning of his airline career. Swayne is an author of
articles, quizzes and lists on Boldmethod every week. You can reach Swayne at
swayne@boldmethod.com, and follow his flying adventures on his YouTube Channel.

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