January 15, 2008
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has made changes to two Advisory Circulars
(AC) in an effort to improve runway safety at U.S. airports by reducing the risk of runway incursions at smaller airports.
All airports certificated under Part 139 are now affected by the FAA’s Call To Action, which is a plan to minimize the risk of runway incursions. Enhanced standards for taxiway centerline makings have already been implemented at the largest 75 airports and are now being extended to smaller certificated airports. The FAA is also recommending recurrent driver training.
As a result of the FAA’s Call To Action :
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The December 2007 draft change to AC 150/5340-1J, Standard Airport Markings would adopt the enhanced markings as standard signage for commercial service airports.
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Enhanced taxiway centerlines will be standard at 75 medium and large airports (those with more than 1.5 million enplanements). Compliance date for installation is June
30, 2008.
¾ All remaining airports certificated under Part 139 are required to adopt the same taxiway centerline marking standard effective one year from the effective date of
Change 1 of AC 150/5340-1J, Standard Airport Markings .
¾ Airport projects receiving federal funds under the Airport Grant Assistance and the
Passenger Facility Charge programs are mandated to comply with the new standards.
¾ Surface painted holding position signs installed in accordance with paragraph 26 of
AC 150/5340-1J, Standard Airport Markings, will become part of the standard signage for all Part 139 certificated airports, effective one year from the effective date of Change 1 of this AC .
¾ Standards for enhanced taxiway centerlines, extension of runway holding position markings, and surface painted holding position signs are optional for all other airports not holding a Part 139 Airport Operating Certificate.
OVER…

(Major Provisions Continued)
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The FAA is concurrently recommending regular recurrent driver training for all persons with access to the movement area and ramp areas at certificated airports.
Regarding driver training, all of the 567 certificated airports in the United States require initial and recurrent training for airport employees such as airport police and airport maintenance workers.
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385 of the 567 certificated airports now require recurrent training for non-airport employees such as employees of fixed base operators or airline mechanics.
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97 more airports plan to adopt this requirement. The FAA is now proposing actions designed to help some smaller airports make the same important safety improvements.
NATA encourages all general aviation airport sponsors to review and consider the changes made in these
Draft Advisory Circulars. The FAA circulates Draft Advisory Circulars to interested industry associations to obtain comments and recommendations for action. NATA welcomes comments and recommendations from the general aviation community regarding these changes. Comments and recommendations may be sent to the Staff Contact listed below.
The due date for public comments on both ACs is February 26, 2008.
Click here to view Draft AC No. 150/5340-1J Standard Airport Markings .
Click here to view Draft AC No. 150/5210-20 Ground Vehicle Operations on Airports .
Staff Contact: Justin T. Bryant
Manager, Government and Industry Affairs jbryant@nata.aero