SAFO 06009: Atlanta airport (ATL) runway 10-28, potential hazard

Approved by: AFS-200

SAFOSafety Alert for Operators

U.S. Department SAFO 06009

of Transportation DATE 7/24/2006

Federal Aviation

Administration Flight Standards Service

Washington, DC http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_operators/airline_safety/safo A SAFO contains important safety information and may include recommended action. SAFO content should be especially valuable to air carriers in meeting their statutory duty to provide service with the highest possible degree of safety in the public interest.

Subject: Atlanta airport (ATL) runway 10-28, potential hazard

Purpose: This SAFO advises operators and pilots of a potential hazard at Atlanta-Hartsfield Jackson International Airport (ATL) runway 10-28.

Background: ATL recently opened new runway 10-28 that crosses over Interstate Highway I-285. The overlying part of the runway is between turnoffs to taxiways SG 12 and SG 14. The wide concrete extensions covering the highway tunnels on both sides of the runway are the same color as the runway and the taxiways. Yellow chevrons that resemble taxiway markings are painted on those extensions. During conditions of low visibility, the lines comprising these chevrons might be mistaken as markings for turnoffs to taxiways. Such a mistake could lead to an accident. Concrete extensions to parallel Taxiway SG with similar, shorter yellow lines create the same kind of illusion.

These potential hazards are not depicted or described on current ATL airport diagram pages (see affected area, Figure 1).

Recommendation: For operations into ATL, directors of safety, directors of operations, and fractional ownership program managers should ensure that their pilots are aware of the content of this SAFO and use extra caution when operating to, from, or (on the ground) near ATL runway 10-28:

1. Use extreme caution when landing on Runway 10 in low visibility conditions, particularly when landing rollout is beyond Taxiway SG 12. The yellow chevrons on the concrete extensions may appear to be taxiway markings leading off the runway, but they are not. The next available turnoff is Taxiway SG 14.

2. Similarly, use extreme caution in low visibility conditions when taxiing eastbound or westbound on Taxiway SG, between Taxiways SG 12 and SG 14. Yellow lines on the concrete extensions to Taxiway SG might be mistaken for taxiway markings leading off the taxiway.

3. Flightcrews should incorporate these cautions in their pre-departure and approach briefings when operating to and from ATL runway 10-28, particularly during periods of low visibility.

Approved by: AFS-200 Figure 1 (Do not use for navigation) Affected area