Concord Buchanan Airport has been selected as a test bed for Ground Marker, a system designed to help prevent runway incursions. Because of the complexity of the airport surface, Concord has historically had a high rate of runway incursions. The FAA is implementing Ground Marker for a test period of nine months commencing in October 2003.

Ground Marker provides aural notification to taxiing pilots by means of the 75 MHz marker beacon frequency. No additional equipment beyond a standard marker beacon receiver is required in the aircraft. A limited number of dedicated receivers are being provided for ground vehicles.

The Ground Marker system at Concord consists of six sensor areas or nodes. The nodes are located at historically significant areas (hot spots) where runway incursions are likely to happen. An aircraft passing over the node will hear a brief message broadcast via the marker beacon frequency. The message is informational only and does not contain any control information. It may be as simple as “Taxiway Bravo at Taxiway Alpha”. The intent of the message is to simply make the pilot aware of his/her position on the airfield.

The six nodes at Concord are depicted in the chart below. These will be familiar to you if you’ve already seen our Map of Hot Spots. Most runway incursions happen at these points. The approach end of Runway 32R is a perennial favorite because of the oddly shaped hold bar pattern. A close second is exiting Runway 32R at Taxiways Echo, Hotel and Juliet. Aircraft exiting Runway 32R at those points somehow seem to miss both Taxiway Bravo and the hold short signs for Runway 32L. During daylight hours Runway 32L is an active runway. The last node is along Taxiway Echo near the approach end of Runway 1R.

The nodes themselves physically consist of sensors buried in the taxiway pavement, a small computer and a transmitter. The sensors are very similar to those used for traffic light signals. They are able to sense the direction of the aircraft and to a limited extent, the speed. The content of the message may need to be vastly different depending upon which way the aircraft is headed. By sensing the direction of the aircraft an appropriate message can be broadcast.

As mentioned above, no additional equipment is required in the aircraft beyond a standard marker beacon receiver. However, for Ground Marker to be successful, it requires your cooperation and awareness as a pilot. The marker beacon receiver must be both turned on and audible in order for the system to work. It may be helpful to add that item to your pre-taxi checklist. Similarly your marker beacon receiver should be left on after landing until you’re parked.

And you, as a pilot, need to be aware of the “new voice” on the radio. This system is designed so that the voice you hear over Ground Marker won’t sound anything like the voices you’ve come to know and love at Concord Tower. Nevertheless, with all the cockpit communication and chatter which normally occurs during taxi, please do be aware that you will be hearing other voices. That’s our Ground Marker telling you where you are.

Any system is only as good as its operator. The pilot (that’s you) is still the most crucial link in the chain. And ultimately the safe operation of the aircraft is your responsibility. We encourage your participation in Ground Marker, but hasten to add that it is no substitute for pilot awareness. Familiarize yourself with the airport diagram and, if in doubt, ask!

For more information on Ground Marker, please see the following links:

VERACITY ENGINEERING

FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION, AND-500

BASIC COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES, INC.

INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION ORGANIZATION