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    A new advisory circular is now in effect as of 3 September 2010. Former AC 150/5340-1J covering Standards for Airport Markings has been replaced by AC 150/5340-1K. It not only cancels 5340-1J, but also subsequent changes as well as the Signs and Marking Supplement (SAMS) that appeared on the FAA.gov website.

    Among other things, the new AC emphasizes certain objectives through color-coded text boxes that should be helpful to users:

• Green boxes explain painting precautions and solutions.
• Red boxes emphasize safety initiatives.
• Gray boxes contain general remarks about airfield markings.

    One green box we particularly like is paragraph 1.4(b), and mandates that automatic glass bead dispensers shall be used in lieu of hand throwing or dispensing glass beads with fertilizer spreaders or other makeshift devices. Why? Because glass beads will be applied more uniformly and will be more likely to properly embed in the wet paint if applied immediately and automatically with the coating.

    Do you have problems with airless machines and their "automatic glass bead dispensers"? We have a solution! Sightline has a patent pending on the Robo-Beader®. It is a system that reliably dispenses glass beads evenly across a 6-inch marking. Two dispensers can be attached to a two-gun airless machine to provide 12-inches of even coverage. Our contracting side uses it and loves it! For more information, write to us.

    New standards for dimension and placement of markings and clarifications have been established in this AC; and many will be covered in our upcoming Airfield Marking Symposium being held in Fort Myers, FL, Nov 8-10, 2010.

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