What types of line marking do airports have?

It’s quite simple: at an airport, you’ll come across just about any kind of line you can think of. Small, wide, single, double or skipped, in all possible combinations. Be conscious of the different challenges this brings and use the right equipment to spray them.

When selecting a line marking unit, you can look at it from different angles. Considering the kind of lines in use at your airport is a good place to start. Be aware of what type of lines you need to spray primarily, whether you need mostly one-colour or multiple-colour lines, what shape and width and how many miles of those lines need to be sprayed. This will help you make a more informed decision when evaluating the performance and features of the many line marking units available. So let’s look at what kind of lines you find at most airports.

• Standard lines in almost all airport areas
  There’s no such thing as a standard line, of course, but when considering airports, we could define them as solid, monocolour lines about 10 to 15 cm wide. A solid line is often used as longitudinal marking to indicate a vehicle’s proper position on a road. The main colours used are white and yellow. You find them on runways and taxiways, as well as on other roads and parking areas.

• Wide lines for specific areas and purposes
  Some airport areas require wider lines of up to 40 to 50 cm; some areas such as touchdown zones on a landing strip or pedestrian crossings require as much as 90 cm. The spray width of a single spray gun is not sufficient for wide lines. Lines of up to 60 cm can be drawn by a line marker that combines two spray guns, while for 90 cm you need a unit with three adjacent guns. Accurate positioning of the guns is critical for the line quality.

• Skip lines, possibly combined with other line marking type
  A lot of airport areas also have skip lines, formed by a series of short lines. The length, width, colour and distance between line segments can vary from area to area and between airports. A line marking unit with automatic guns makes it easy to create skip lines with pinpoint accuracy. The guns start and stop automatically according to a pre-programmed setting.

• Double lines in same or different colours
  Double lines are also very common at airports. These exist in numerous types, e.g.:
  • Two solid lines
  • One solid line combined with one skip line
  • One solid line transitioning to a skip line combined with one skip line transitioning to a solid line
  • Typically for airports, zipper lines

Double adjacent lines can be in the same colour or in different colours. This is where dual-colour line marking units come in very handy, as they enable you to cover both lines at the same time, using two guns with two paint containers. Choose a unit with two automatic guns to work even faster.

• Lines in diagonals or other patterns
  Non-driving zones are often crossed out with parallel diagonal lines. These types of markings are regularly done manually, which is a time-consuming operation. A line marking unit with adjustable spray tips allows you to spray under a certain angle, making the job a lot easier. Some advanced machines feature an auto-layout feature that practically does the work for you!

Look at your priorities when deciding what line marking unit you need

When selecting a line marking unit for airports, you need to look at the needs you have at your site. Look for line marking units that enable you to do the full scope of line types in the best way. Consider which units allow you to save time and to do long straight and curved single, double and skip lines, and don’t forget you often need to spray more than one colour at the same time. Be aware that you probably need to cover a lot of areas with lines up to 90 cm wide. Last but not least, consider a solution that does all the layout preparation and calculating for you.