Back to Webletter

    In the last few years Sightline began testing different materials on airport pavements to remedy common marking issues. We have some good news after visiting one of our subject airports over the spring! A quick background: eighteen months ago, a biocide-treated paint was applied to observe its effects on blue-green algae growth (for reference, click here). Blue-green algae grow on runway surfaces and obscure markings. Algae are especially prominent in the warm, humid environments of the world.

    The test was conducted at a southeastern airport on one of its runways. Thorough cleaning and prep work was done to make sure the surface would facilitate our testing. The results are promising after 18 months of weathering. In the picture to the right, you can see the line at which the treated paint stops and a standard 1952-D starts. The naked eye picks up the discoloration of the untreated material, due to algae beginning to grow back over the painted surface.

    Our guinea pig airport has taken a big step... for a guinea pig. They adopted the Sightline philosophy to spend a little extra money up front in order to eliminate the need to repaint as often. After 18 months these markings are resisting the denizen algae and still achieve excellent reflectivity readings. Time will tell, but we firmly believe this marking system should last a minimum of another 18 months.

    If you repaint over this stuff - you won't win. These slimy guys have been around much longer than us... they're pretty resilient. However, we may have found a system to curb their propagation without sacrificing marking quality. Airports in the southeastern states should consider testing this new modified coating for themselves:
it could save some serious green.

Back to Webletter