DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF SAFETY ORANGE AIRPORT CONSTRUCTION SIGNAGE
In April 2010, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Traffic Organization created the Airport Construction Advisory Council (ACAC) to identify hazards due to airfield construction activities. The ACAC has recently proposed the use of safety orange for temporary airport construction signage to reduce adverse operational incidents. In response to this proposal, the Airport Technology Research and Development Branch researchers from the William J. Hughes Technical Center visited ongoing airport construction projects and collected information to identify shortfalls and determine compliance with related Advisory Circulars (AC). They were also tasked to develop and evaluate prototype signs in an airport environment. Site visits were conducted to existing construction sites at several airports to collect information regarding the airport’s existing airfield construction projects. Pilots of varying backgrounds evaluated several design concepts utilizing the simulation technology of the Airway Facilities Tower Integration Laboratory at the William J. Hughes Technical Center. Outdoor evaluations were then conducted using sign prototypes to determine the optimal height and color used for the sign legend. To validate the final sign prototypes, evaluations were conducted at several airports where construction projects were occurring.
No shortfalls with respect to compliance with the related ACs were identified during the site visits. Several types of visual aids were used at the airports in accordance with AC 150/5370-2F. The airport operators indicated that besides using the current visual aids, found in AC 150/5370-2F, the use of the temporary safety orange signs would be advantageous if they were available. During the field evaluations of the prototype signs, a combined total of 131 individuals participated in the survey, including 98 vehicle operators and 33 pilots. Overall, vehicle operators and pilots overwhelmingly agreed the messages, character heights, and colors of the signs were comprehensible, conspicuous, and adequate in alerting individuals about existing construction.
Based on the results of this study, it is advised that AC 150/5370-2F be updated to include safety orange construction signage as a visual aid to alert pilots and vehicle operators of existing airport construction. Signs displaying CONSTRUCTION ON RAMP and CONSTRUCTION AHEAD are recommended to be placed at locations leading to ramps and other areas with construction activity. When a runway is temporarily shortened due to construction, it is recommended that TAKEOFF RUN AVAILABLE (TORA) signs be placed at the runway entrances to display the current takeoff run available. Additional education is recommended to increase understanding of the TORA acronym to ensure pilots have adequate situational awareness.
DOT/FAA/TC-15/52
Authors: Robert Bassey, Jennifer Klass, A.A.E, and Garrison Canter