Why can't they paint huge numbers on runways?

Question

Quite a few planes have taken the wrong runway causing some fatal accidents. It is a very simple thing to paint a big number on the runway. Why is this not done?

Answer 1

runways do have numbers, yes huge ones.

taxiing onto the wrong runway is most likely the fault of the pilot (should of gone to specsavers)

Answer 2

Thankfully all the guys flying the planes  I have been on have either been really savvy about the layout of the runway or they have had exceptionally good eyes

Good Job Pilots of mine

wow some folks are really ungrateful

Answer 3

They do on most runways.

Answer 4

I think you are talking about aircraft taxing and entering the wrong runway. This is called runway infringement, only second to airspace infringement violation in record.

Taxiways are well marked with the name of the taxiway you are on, the eventual taxiway that is crossing ahead and the runway direction it is leading to. Finally, the holding position, prior to entering the active runway is well marked on the ground, by signs and even by lights.

Based on Murphy's law and as long as there will be airplanes, there will be human mistakes and accidents.

The best way to avoid them is to automate ground traffic control, which is already a fact on most airports. I used to work for a company making such ground radar control and e.g. when approach radar sent a landing aircraft to ground radar, a tag indicated the time to threshold in seconds. If then any other traffic, even a fuel truck, was crossing the active runway, a h**l of an alarm was triggered. That was 15 years ago. Since then technology has even made it safer.

Answer 5

On most larger airports there are very massive numbers painted on the runways, but those are code for the size of the airport.

Adding more numbers to indicate runways, would add confusion to this system. It's the responsibility of the pilot to know the air strip that he's landing/taking off at.

Answer 6

There are huge numbers painted on the end of each runway identifying the runway.  There are also signs at each entrance to each runway identifying that runway.  At many airports, the identification of the runway is also painted on the ground at the each entrance to the runway.  There may also be flashing lights at each entrance, red lights in the runway, yellow lights on the taxiway, etc.

There isn't any scheme that can compensate for a pilot who isn't paying attention, though.

Answer 7

The answer is that THEY DO.  Some of the other answers here are  not entirely correct.

Please go to an airport or look at some pictures of airports on the Internet.  All paved runways are required to be marked with white or yellow numbers (usually white) in a minimum size proportional to the dimensions of the paved area of the runway.  In some cases these numbers may be as high as 150-175 feet in the United States.

Just go and look, and you will see them.  The numbers represent the first two digits of the magnetic compass heading of the runway center line to the nearest five (5) degrees.  Thus, runway 24 and runway 6 are the same piece of asphalt, but in opposite directions.

The same is true all the way around the compass.  I last landed on runway 22, but if the wind had been from the other direction, I would have landed on runway 4.  Same runway.

These runways do not have "names," but only numbers.  A control tower always clears a pilot to land on a specific runway, by number.

Despite all these efforts, it DOES occasionally happen that a pilot lands on the wrong runway, because of poor visibility conditions or deteriorated runway markings.  More often, pilots take off, or attempt to take off, from the wrong runway.  The numbers can be seen from 5-10 miles away from the air, but usually cannot be read from the ground, because of the flat angle.

Entering the wrong runway for takeoff can create a very hazardous situation.  This mistake is called a "runway incursion," and it has become a more frequent occurrence as airports have become larger and more complex.  The signs that pilots use to find their way across the airport can be confusing even for a seasoned professional.

If in doubt, call Ground Control and make sure you are where you think you are and have clearance to do what you are about to do.

And remember: anything can happen.  A colleague of mine once landed a Boeing 707 loaded with passengers on a military air base in Italy by mistake, while flying into Rome.  He was intimately familiar with the area and its airports, but was thrown off by a malfunctioning navigation (VORTAC) station.

He got a really hard time for it, but was not subject to any disciplinary action, because it was clearly not his fault.  So if you get tired of being on the wrong runway, try landing on the wrong airport!  It happens once in a while.

Answer 8

there is signage at every runway intersection indicating the runway and its direction - the sign is while numbers on a red background.  if you are at one end, it only has one number, if you are crossing in the middle, there are two, (for direction)

it is hard to read the numbers on the runway in the dark - so you use you heading, and other cues (lighting system for that runway, cross runways, preceeding aircraft. )  check out the airport diagram for williamsport, PA, you'll see two runways with a common starting point - what you don't see is the big mountain immediately to the south.  They have a common 'hold-short' line which isn't even close to the runway entrance, with confusing signs.  when you turn onto the "runways" in the dark, it is best to ask them to shut off the lights on the "other" one.

runway incursions are a high priority right now, lots of additional training is being put into it, with liturature being sent to pilots to attend seminars - my instructor at my last flight review spent alot of time on interpreting signs and airport diagrams.  there is also some human factors in communication with ground control..

you can read through the NTSB reports/findings on their website - they are categorized, and have info about cause - which allows analysis and solution.

Answer 9

When ATC tells the aircraft's approach, the ATC tells which runway to land on. For example, ATC says land on runway 33, this means that the runway's heading is 330 degrees so the aircraft's final approach is on a heading of 330 degrees. Some runways don't have a painted designation numbers but still it has a runway name (which ATC shouts out) that corresponds to its heading.

Answer 10

there are numbers at the treshold. imagine how owuld the runway look like if it had the runway heading indicator at each intersection with taxiway.

the proper taxi assistance is a better solution to that problem.

Answer 11

They do paint huge numbers on runways. Just how big do you want them.

Answer 12

They do, and have many other signs along the way, It was a mandate of the WHO, World Health Organization, that drove the international language of air traffic to English.

If the pilot's don't understand the ATC or Tower, and vice-versa, then they are standing next to themselves with faces on their eggs.

Answer 13

It is done.

Answer 14

There are signs where ever a taxiway meets a runway, and the runways also are aligned with radials on the compass.