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Old 11th Feb 2011, 09:32
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Join Date: Aug 1998
Location: Ex-pat Aussie in the UK
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The entire runway surface is inspected for FOD (Foreign Object Damage), is built to the same weight spec and has the same wing clearances at the edges for obstacles - so there is no reason to specifically follow a yellow line on a runway (providing you don't taxi off the edge, of course!)

On a taxiway, however, different areas are built to different weight spec, the lines are painted specifically to guarantee wing clearance, and off the yellow line you find much more FOD.

I once took a shortcut, off the yellow lines, on the apron and picked up a nail in a tyre - so spent four hours with an AOG aircraft waiting for a replacement. At least if you follow the lines, you have a good chance that the aircraft ahead has followed the lines, and picked up any FOD before you.
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