Why are there no Touch Down Zone markings at UK military airfields?
 

The recent posting of Mount Pleasant in the "What Aerodrome" thread showed that the runway has no Touch Down Zone markings. A quick bit of Googling confirmed that UK military runways do not have these markings, but French, German, Canadian and US military runways do.

Does anyone know the reason for this and what impact that has on operations for military and civil aircraft?

I'm somewhat surprised that I had never noticed this before, since I've flown out of nine RAF airfields :uhoh:

Because the numbers are the touchdown markings - why would you want to land anywhere else?
:)

Proper paint not in the budget, perhaps?:}

They are there, it's just that being Military Airfields, they're painted the same colour as the runway for camouflague purposes! :}

Regards,

Old Smokey

Thanks for the interesting answers, chaps ;)

I think the winner is Old Smokey, but I assume the paint has different IR reflectivity, so that crews can use their NVGs to find the runway.

I shall now ask the question on the Military Forum and see if the high level of banter continues, with always the remote possibility of the real answer :ok:

Touchdown markers.....heck they feel tickled just to hit the runway!

Being on the correct runway is even better!

When you re landing on a runway with a fighter you must land on the figures farther is too far...

ICAO Annex 14 Ch 6 shows the type of TDZ markings applicable. In the UK CAP 168 Ch 7 has the (better, some say) British version.

In Euroland, many aeroportos cater for both Mil and Civ traffic so the internationally accepted markings could well be preferred.

If the RWY is equipped with an ILS GP and PAPIs then maybe a decision has been made that additional paint markings are not required. Or maybe Penguins equiped with anti grafitti spray operate covertly?

Sir George Cayley

Most UK military bases have distance to go markers along the side of the runway counting down in thousands of feet so there is less need for TDZ markings.