Signs, lights, and markings, oh my! You see them every flight, but what exactly is the purpose of these various runway lights and signs? While some indicate distance remaining and some are used to guide pilots, they all serve to ensure a safe and smooth takeoff and landing. Here are a few things to know about the two (yes, two!) Casper/Natrona County International Airport runways.
The Basics on the Runway
C/NCIA has two runways that accommodate 130 daily operations, which include commercial, military, international, cargo, medical, crop/weed spraying, aerial firefighting, training, and corporate flights. Runway 3/21 is 10,165 ft. in length by 150 ft. in width, and Runway 8/26 is slightly shorter at 8,679 ft. in length by 150 ft. in width. Both runways are grooved asphalt, but unlike roadway grooves, their grooves go widthwise, so any moisture on the runway runs along the grooves to the sides of the runway to keep water from pooling. For further moisture mitigation, both are also crowned in the center, helping moisture to run off the sides of the pavement. In addition, both runways have high-intensity lights and precision runway markings.
- Did you know? A runway number corresponds to the compass bearing in degrees, rounded to the nearest 10 degrees, and shortened to two digits. For example, runway 3 is between 26 and 35 degrees on a compass, so it is rounded up or down to 30, and then abbreviated to 03 (or simply runway 3). An aircraft can land in either direction; therefore, the opposite runway end is runway 21, which is 180 degrees (opposite) of the runway 03 end.
The PAPI Lighting System
C/NCIA runways are equipped with Precision Approach Path Indicators, or PAPIs. These visual landing aids consist of a lighting system that lets a pilot know if they are above, below, or on the correct glide path to a runway. For pilots who are unfamiliar or have never landed at our airport before, the PAPI is particularly important, especially as a training ground for new pilots.
While airports try to ensure there are no obstructions on the approach to a runway, a PAPI lets a pilot know if they are below the desired glide path, which could lead to striking a natural or manmade obstruction if not corrected. Alternatively, the PAPI also tells pilots if they are above the glide path and thus would land further down the runway, providing less runway to stop, or if they are on the desired glide path to touch down on the proper (touchdown) portion of the runway.
The Runway Signs
Airfield signs are spread across runways, taxiways, and aircraft parking ramps. Each sign means something different, yet they’re standard across every airport, which allows a pilot to land at and navigate around an unfamiliar airport easily, due to the same/familiar markings and colors. For example, a runway/taxiway hold position sign has a red background and white numbers. The numbers denote the runway the aircraft is approaching, and the sign is located at a “hold short” line letting the pilot know not to cross into the runway safety area until authorized.
On the runway, you may see a sign with a black background and a white number. This sign indicates to the pilot the number of feet on the runway remaining from that point until the end of the runway. For example, if the pilot sees the number 8, they know they have 8,000 ft. of runway left. Additionally, you may also see signs with a yellow background and a black letter, typically with an arrow. This is a taxiway direction sign, illustrating the direction of that taxiway to the pilot. Taxiways are denoted by letters using the aviation alphabet, i.e., Taxiway Alpha, Taxiway Bravo, Taxiway Charlie, Taxiway Delta, etc.
- Did you know? Taxiway signs are always yellow with black letters, or black with yellow letters.
The Fun Facts of C/NCIA’s Runways
In 2024, Runway 8/26 received a new LED lighting upgrade, combining elevated and in-pavement runway lights. A total of 75 lights were upgraded, which now means that all the runway, taxiway, and airfield signs have been upgraded to LEDs.
While runways are pretty standardized across airports, C/NCIA’s runways are unique in that they both have three in-pavement sensors. These sensors look like hockey pucks and are connected to a computer and a weather monitoring system at the Airport. They monitor various conditions such as temperature (air and pavement), moisture, and the presence of contaminants like ice, water, or snow, all in real time. The sensors help the Airport maintenance and operations personnel make optimal decisions to prevent hazardous runway conditions and improve pilot and passenger safety.
Now you’re understanding the airfield! On your next flight, take a peek out the window as you take off or land to see which signs and lights you can identify.
