CAPT OF MLG REPORTS RWY MARKINGS AT PASI ARE TOO FADED TO PROVIDE REQUIRED IFR RWY VISIBILITY CRITERIA SPECIFICALLY IN TERMS OF DEPTH PERCEPTION.

Date: 2008-07 · Aircraft: B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model · Phase: approach

Anomalies: other-faded-rnwy-markings

Synopsis

CAPT OF MLG REPORTS RWY MARKINGS AT PASI ARE TOO FADED TO PROVIDE REQUIRED IFR RWY VISIBILITY CRITERIA SPECIFICALLY IN TERMS OF DEPTH PERCEPTION.

Narrative

SITKA ARPT HAS ISSUED A NOTAM FOR 'RWY MARKINGS FADED.' THE PAINT USED FOR THE RWY MARKINGS IS NOT VISIBLE AT NIGHT WITH A WET RWY. BECAUSE OF THIS; THE RWY DOES NOT MEET THE CRITERIA FOR AN IFR RWY. ON LNDG; THE ONLY DEPTH PERCEPTION AVAILABLE TO THE CREW IS THE RWY LIGHTS. THE LNDG LIGHTS DO NOT SUFFICIENTLY ILLUMINATE THE RWY TO PROVIDE THE NEEDED DEPTH PERCEPTION WITH A WET RWY. THE RWY CAN BEST BE DESCRIBED AS 'BLACKER THAN THE INSIDE OF A COW WITH THE EYES SHUT AND THE TAIL DOWN.' I HAD TO CALL 'FLARE; FLARE; FLARE' FOR THE FO OTHERWISE WE WOULD HAVE HAD A HARD LNDG. WHILE I HAVE BEEN FLYING THESE TRIPS FOR THE LAST 2 MONTHS; I HAVE COME TO EXPECT USING ONLY THE RWY LIGHTS FOR GUIDANCE AS TO MY RELATIVE POS TO THE RWY. THIS FLT BROUGHT TO MY ATTN THAT OTHERS; EVEN WITH THE NOTAM AND MY REMINDING THE PLT ON FINAL; HAD A VERY DIFFICULT TIME WITH THE DEPTH PERCEPTION. RAISE THE MINIMUMS TO THAT OF A 'NON-IFR RWY' AFTER CIVIL TWILIGHT AND HAVE THE CRITERIA BE 'DRY RWY ONLY' AT NIGHT.

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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.