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    Hello and congratulations on finding my piece of the Sightline webletter. For those of you who have read this before, please pardon the re-introduction. But for those who haven't, let me be the first to introduce myself. My name is Mike Speidel, Sightline's Marketing Manager and Contributing Editor. I am young, witty, and my headlines rhyme: I'm a triple-threat. My mission is to discuss industry issues in a way that is easy to understand, so that you can then impress others with your newly acquired knowledge. You don't have to thank me now, but if I don't hear from you eventually, I will find you. Today I am in Search of the Truth about industry standards, and how training can affect the industry.

Why Have Standards?

    When the FAA, ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) and our military agencies began putting more emphasis on markings, lighting and signage in the late 80's and early 90's, the intent was toward standardization. This provides pilots and ground traffic with a sense of familiarity. They consistently recognize and interpret information placed on the airfield. Consequently, they're less likely to be surprised or confused.

    But with the rise in the incidence of runway incursions, many were being attributed to non-standard, confusing, or ineffective markings, thus the Advisory Circulars were revised and the standards made more rigorous. With each incident there is an investigation. Something or someone is found to have been wrong, litigation often ensues, and new rules are created to prevent that problem from happening again. As recently as April 2005, Advisory Circular (150-5340-1J), Standards for Airports Markings, was revised adding new standards to the holding position markings: the environment in which most runway incursions occur. More on that subject in our next issue... I know you can't contain your excitement; deep breaths.

    The potential for litigation is great in our present day society. We probably cannot prevent everything bad from happening, but we are obligated to at least comply with current standards to avoid the most common of errors: negligence. And the best way to avoid negligence is with training.

    Let's face it - where would we be as a society without a little training? I can tell you. After countless hours of research, pouring through statistical feedback, and dissecting theoretical models, I have come to some conclusions. There wouldn't be potty training, CPR training, training wheels, animal training, or spring training, just to name a few. Consequently, we would be living in a world with wet pants, more fatalities, scarred knees, wild dogs, and a shorter baseball season. That is a society I care not to know, sans the part about baseball.

    I know what you're thinking . . . it's only paint on pavement! Who cares? Exactly. Airfield markings are, admittedly, a small part of the overall picture; like Leslie Nielson in Airplane! However, markings (and Nielson's role) compliment the overall project, but it has to be done well. I've heard it said before, "You're a markings expert? Surely, you must be joking." To which I reply, "No I'm not, and don't call me Shirley."

    As incidental as they are, airfield markings still shouldn't end up at the bottom of the "to-do" list. Moreover, they can be the subject of serious litigation, or worse yet, an accident! OK, so let's agree for the sake of argument that markings actually can make a difference. And now one step further: the quality aspect of installing markings. A poor paint job can make a good project look bad. Conversely, a good paint job can make an otherwise poor project look better than it is. Consider investing in your personnel by equipping them with the expertise that comes with professional training. You will be rewarded with a more efficient, cost-effective, and safer project. Save time. Save money. Save lives.

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