Alternating Yellow and Green Taxiway Centerline as a Runway Safety Enhancement

This report describes a research effort that was conducted to investigate and validate the feasibility of installing alternating yellow and green taxiway centerline lights on taxiway segments located between the runway hold position markings and the runway centerline in the direction approaching the runway. This lighting configuration would serve as a visual cue to pilots and vehicle drivers that they are about to enter the runway environment/runway safety area (RSA). The objective of this research effort was to determine how the proposed lighting configuration would appear to pilots approaching the hold line (runway environment/RSA), to determine if presently available lighting fixtures are adequate for the purpose, if present spacing standards are adequate for the purpose, if pilots interpret the purpose of the new configuration correctly, and the cost factors involved in making such a change.

After considering all of the data and information gathered during the evaluation effort, the concept of illuminating the runway environment area with alternating yellow and green centerline fixtures was found to be a cost-efficient, easy to deploy tool that will have an impact on reducing runway incursions at those airports that have existing taxiway centerline lights.

DOT/FAA/AR-TN05-51
Authors: James W. Patterson