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    Everyone knows a Sam: Sammy, Samuel, Sampson, etc. Until recently, I thought it perfectly reasonable that all the industry folks with whom I come into contact know the SaMS too. Frankly, it's potentially too valuable of a utility not to know about it, so here we go.

    When the Advisory Circulars are published the authors have to keep in mind they must remain as general and generic as possible in order to serve the entire aviation industry's needs. The document is only as specific as it needs to be to guide its audience, the end users, in the proper direction. Because of this fact, there are many questions that cannot be answered simply by referring to the latest markings AC. Since 1991, the FAA has been answering questions about specific marking scenarios as they arise.

    The Signs and Marking Supplement, or SAMS, is the cataloged questions and answers given for sign and marking dilemmas. I imagine that the FAA receives numerous requests for assistance with unique marking designs. If the SaMS team believes that a certain question is worthwhile to publish for the rest of the industry to digest, it is published on the following link: Signs and Marking Supplement Homepage. There is a wealth of information here that is not always covered in the AC. If you are interested, be sure to subscribe to receive updates as they are released by clicking on the "Subscribe to this page" button to the right. And by all means use the SaMS if you are having problems resolving a marking dilemma!

    For any questions specific to your project that are not covered in the markings AC, you may send them to the SaMS team by contacting the Manager of the Airport Safety and Operations Division, Ben Castellano, via email, or by telephone, 202.267.8728.

    By the way, the system does not work in reverse. I have had a few ideas about new marking systems that I would like to see in place, but have yet to hear back from the FAA. I'll share one of my concepts with you, but can't recommend using it until it is formally approved. Illustrated on the right is my 'Enhanced Hold Position Marking'. Pilots will surely be holding firm at this marking. For you lady pilots, I'm working on another design specific to you as we speak, but a self-portrait takes longer than you might suspect.

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