International runway numbering for parallel runways

TangoWhiskey

TangoWhiskey

Touchdown! Greaser!
Joined
Feb 23, 2005
Messages
14,210
Location
Midlothian, TX
Display Name
Display name:
3Green
I would have thought they used "L" and "R", as English is the ICAO language for airports. But one of the club aircraft is headed into Monclova, Mexico (MMMV) and their parallel runways are 24-I (izquierda, 'left') and 24-D (derecho, 'right'). I would have never thought to have briefed that before departure!

http://maps.google.com/maps?sourcei...64,-101.463311&spn=0.003438,0.006845&t=h&z=17

P.S.--I don't speak Spanish; I think those words above are right, but might not be.
 
The letter "I" looks very similar to the centerline striping in the link. I suppose that had the potential to be a little confusing.
 
Hmmm... I'm almost sure I've been to Monclova but I don't remember that.
 
Is this UNUSUAL? Do most international airports, including those in Mexico, use the standard "L" and "R"?
 
Cap'n Jack said:
The letter "I" looks very similar to the centerline striping in the link. I suppose that had the potential to be a little confusing.
Click to expand...

No, it's definitely an "I"--look for the serifs on the top and bottom.
 
kkoran said:
No, it's definitely an "I"--look for the serifs on the top and bottom.
Click to expand...

I don't think Jack disputes it's an "I"; I think he's just suggesting it could be confused as a center line stripe while dealing with everything else related to an approach.
 
It wouldn't suprise me at all since Mexico doesn't adhear to all ICAO standards. For Example, you will almost never hear Mexican controllers speak English to Mexican airliners. Really makes it hard to gather info for SA on weather, rides and traffic.
 
kkoran said:
No, it's definitely an "I"--look for the serifs on the top and bottom.
Click to expand...
I agree it's an "I"- never said it wasn't...

TangoWhiskey said:
I don't think Jack disputes it's an "I"; I think he's just suggesting it could be confused as a center line stripe while dealing with everything else related to an approach.
Click to expand...
Yep- that's exactly what I was thinking. Those serifs are rather small.

In good weather- I'd probably see the "D" and reason the other runway was "I" but on something like this, we shouldn't have to guess. Lincoln, NE has a taxiway that has apparently been used as a landing runway despite the markings. For this runway in Mexico, unclear markings would only add to potential confusion.
 
maddog52 said:
For Example, you will almost never hear Mexican controllers speak English to Mexican airliners.
Click to expand...

They don't have to. ICAO only says that English must be available by both ATC and Pilots, not that they can't speak in the native language. That way a German pilot can still communicate with a Japanese controller, for example.

--Carlos V.
 
maddog52 said:
It wouldn't suprise me at all since Mexico doesn't adhear to all ICAO standards. For Example, you will almost never hear Mexican controllers speak English to Mexican airliners. Really makes it hard to gather info for SA on weather, rides and traffic.
Click to expand...

Unbeliever said:
They don't have to. ICAO only says that English must be available by both ATC and Pilots, not that they can't speak in the native language. That way a German pilot can still communicate with a Japanese controller, for example.

--Carlos V.
Click to expand...
You will hear Chinese when flying in China too.

BTW the US does not adhear to all of the ICAO standards either. Just look at some of our phrasing and of course our flight plan form.
 
smigaldi said:
You will hear Chinese when flying in China too.

BTW the US does not adhear to all of the ICAO standards either. Just look at some of our phrasing and of course our flight plan form.
Click to expand...

No kidding! I'm not sure any country adheres completely to the ICAO standards. Americans do love their own way of doing things and resist change . Look at how the change to the clearance to cross any necessary runway thing went over.
 
I was surprised when Canadian ATC instructed our plane to land on "runway thirteen."

Which was confusing considering all the ramps were numbered with Roman numerals and I think there was a ramp thirteen as well.

We were also told to "ident" with the "i" sounding like the "i" in "it." Not sounding like "eye." Took a second to figure out what the controller meant.

And all this was in English! I learned about Canada, but not Mexico yet.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top