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Marking ComboverBy Mike Speidel- Originally published in the Sightline Webletter in Winter 2008
The aviation industry has a similar move that I like to refer to as the "marking combover." It often occurs just before the FAA inspectors pay a visit to an airport to evaluate several components, markings included. Chances are in the days prior to an FAA visit, maintenance crews or contractors are directed to "refresh" the markings in reaction to the imminent inspection. At Sightline, we are all losing hair over this common practice thinking to ourselves, "Who do they thinking they're fooling?"
I have reason to believe that the days of the marking combover may be coming to an end. The FAA is becoming more and more focused on runway safety and reducing incursions. Airfield markings have been cited by several industry authorities as a practical and economical solution to improve runway safety. It's likely the FAA inspectors will be responsible for surveying markings with a fine-toothed comb, and perhaps will result in ridding the industry of the infamous marking combover. |
The combover is a technique that has been around for as long as I can remember. Like many things, some are better than
others, but I have yet to meet one I would adopt were it necessary. After all, bald is beautiful, baby. However, the combover phenomenon
exists and has the rest of us scratching our hair-covered heads thinking, "Who do they think they're fooling?"
What's worse is it's working for some airports. The marking combover usually pretties up the markings for the one day
(not at night) when they are under the microscope. Ultimately, the airport's motivation is not to promote runway safety, rather to get
a passing grade on the markings portion of the report card. Just putting more paint down is hardly ever the proper solution when
maintaining a marking system.
