My first contributing blog is land-based. After all, we all take off from the green grass of The Park. What do you do while on Garden Leave before you start your new job out of semi-retirement to Handle, Fuel, Run Up, Marshall and Direct eight helicopters of the ETPS Rotary Wing, plus everything RWTES et al., so they don’t wander off on the Main Apron? Spend some peaceful days renovating the Aerodrome Ground Signal Marker at The Park!
Aerodrome Ground Signals are the oldest form of ground-air communication. These signal markers played a crucial role in early aviation safety, informing airborne pilots about hazards and directions. However, their most important function was to help pilots identify their home airfield. They were first used during WW1 to encourage pilots to land where they came from! Utilized in civil use and mandatory in early aviation ruling, they became the bedrock of WW2 aviation, when radio and navigation aids were not always available for obvious reasons. RAF and USAF certified airfields had Aerodrome Ground Signal Markers, Signal Squares, and Dumb Bell Symbols visible from the air, especially if they did not have full daytime ATC. But many airfields during WW2 were camouflaged, which is another story, so the runway marking we have now was not an option. But some of the earliest airfield Ground Signal Markers remain the same today, even at London Heathrow, where they are still displayed, together with runway and taxiway markings in use with international aviation agreements throughout the world, well, except Russia, whose runway markings are back to front, and North Korea whose runway markers appear to be upside down. Still, there is always one who has to be difficult!
Today, we have standardized markings universally used in all airfields and runways. These markings have evolved from the early Aerodrome Ground Signals to the modern, widely recognized Markers. They are crucial in ensuring safe and efficient airfield operations, marking a significant advancement in aviation technology and ground safety measures, except at Tenerife North, where you still ask twice!
One of the most unique examples of these early Ground Signal Markers from the start of the 1920s is installed at The Park. This Ground Signal, a testament to British aviation, is a distinctive international symbol. It represents the warning of ‘Active Gliding Operation from the ground upwards’, a phrase that encapsulates the role of these markers in aviation. The Signal is a Double White Cross symbolizing a vertical arm with two parallel cross arms. The signal area indicates that sailplanes use the aerodrome and that sailplane flights are being performed. This simple yet effective design has stood the test of time and remains the same today as it did then over a hundred years ago.
The Aerodrome Ground Signal Marker at The Park, displaying a significant piece of aviation history, was in disrepair. It was heavily overgrown, with 4-8 inches of grass protruding on either side all around and debris-covered parts, making it difficult to see from the air. My task was to restore it to its former glory, a challenge requiring careful work.
The renovation of the Aerodrome Signal Marker at The Park was a multi-step process. The first day involved removing the debris and turf covering the Signal, which required the removal of four full Gater loads of turf. The concrete was then scrubbed with a wire brush to remove the moss and lichen that had formed over time. This revealed that the Ground Signal was twice the size of its former self.
The second day was dedicated to repairing the concrete, washing it to remove final dust and dirt, and drying it over a few hours and several cups of tea with an extended visit to the Winch. The final task was to paint Sandtex Smooth PBW, ensuring a smooth finish by rubbing it into every nook and cranny. The result is startling, as you will find out next time you fly from The Park. Hopefully, those who chose to fly their powered aircraft diagonally across The Park at 1.000ft will have a better opportunity to see what they are flying into!
A second coat of PBW Smooth Sandtex is due in July, but before my controlled mayhem begins, I am pleased this has been a fabulous opportunity to contribute to BWND and has given me much joy and satisfaction. I guess I may now be the Keeper of the Aerodrome Ground Signal Marker at The Park 🙂
June 2024 David Durlston Baker B32