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Airports are notorious for their long lines, which are often formed using retractable belt stanchions, also known as line divider ropes. These barriers are used to create customer queues or waiting lines and can be found in various areas of the airport, including check-in counters, immigration, and pre-departure zones. While some lines are unavoidable, certain programs and government initiatives, such as TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or Clear, offer expedited security screening and shorter wait times for a faster journey through the airport. Additionally, airports utilize marking aids and signs, such as taxiway centerlines and holding position markings, to guide aircraft movement and maintain efficient operations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Stanchions, line divider rope, queue divider rope, tape fences, rope barriers, retracting belt barriers, barrier belt stanchions, airport barrier thingies |
| Description | Vertical posts inserted into the ground or put down on the floor to induce orderly behavior |
| Height | Usually about three feet high |
| Linked with | Velvet ropes, thin ribbon of colored nylon, retractable belts |
| Usage | To separate and induce passengers to line up at the airport check-in counters, at the immigration area, at pre-departure zones, and wherever orderliness is required without human assistance |
| Time spent in line | Can be shortened or skipped by paying money and time upfront for programs like TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or Clear |
| Taxiway centerline | A single continuous yellow line, 6-12 inches in width, that provides a visual cue for taxiing along a designated path |
| Enhanced centerline | Used at larger commercial service airports, consisting of a parallel line of yellow dashes on either side of the normal taxiway centerline |
| Runway holding position markings | Four yellow lines, two solid and two dashed, spaced 6-12 inches apart, that identify where aircraft must stop when a clearance has not been issued to proceed onto the runway |
| Vehicle roadway markings | White solid line to delineate each edge of the roadway and a dashed line to separate lanes within the edges of the roadway |
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What You'll Learn
Crowd control barriers
Airports are busy places with a constant flow of people and vehicles moving through them. To manage this, airports use various tools and methods to control crowds and maintain order. One commonly used method is crowd control barriers, also known as stanchions.
Stanchions are vertical posts that are inserted into the ground or placed on the floor to guide people into orderly lines. They are typically around three feet high and can be linked together with ropes or ribbons to create barriers and delineate specific areas. Stanchions are often used at airport check-in counters, immigration areas, and pre-departure zones to separate and direct passengers without the need for human intervention. They are also commonly found in other crowded places like shopping malls, cinemas, and sports stadiums.
These barriers are sometimes referred to as "retractable belt stanchions" or "barrier belt stanchions." They can be easily moved and adjusted to accommodate changing needs in the airport. The ropes or ribbons attached to the stanchions are often made of velvet or coloured nylon, providing a visually appealing and soft barrier for people to queue behind.
In addition to stanchions, airports also utilise tape fences or retractable barriers to guide passengers. These are typically used in conjunction with stanchions to create flexible and adaptable queueing systems. While stanchions provide structure and delineation, the retractable barriers offer a visually clear indication of where to queue and can be quickly adjusted to accommodate varying numbers of people.
Furthermore, airports also employ marking aids and signs to guide aircraft and vehicles safely around the airport grounds. These markings include taxiway centerlines, holding position markings, and vehicle roadway markings. The taxiway centerlines are continuous yellow lines that guide aircraft along a designated path, while holding position markings indicate where aircraft must stop when instructed to do so. Vehicle roadway markings, on the other hand, define pathways for vehicles using solid white lines and dashed lines to separate lanes.
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Stanchions
At airports, stanchions are used to separate and guide passengers into lines at check-in counters, immigration areas, and pre-departure zones. They help to maintain order and direct passenger flow without the need for human assistance. Stanchions can also be referred to as balusters or queue divider ropes.
The term "stanchion" specifically refers to an upright bar or post, such as a support for a railing. However, in the context of crowd control, the term is used more broadly to describe various forms of barriers used to create customer queues or waiting lines. The two basic types of stanchions used for crowd control are rope barriers and retracting belt barriers.
Tensabarrier is a popular manufacturer of stanchions, and their products are commonly used in airports and other public spaces to manage crowds and create orderly lines. Stanchions are an essential tool for managing the flow of people in busy areas, and their simple yet effective design makes them a versatile solution for a variety of queue management needs.
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Line divider ropes
Stanchions can be made of various materials, including brass, chrome, and plastic, and are often weighted at the base for stability in high-traffic areas. They are typically connected by ropes, retractable belts, or bands to form lines. The ropes can be made of different materials and come in various colours, with upscale options like red velvet ropes for more elegant or upscale settings.
These line divider rope systems are used in a variety of settings beyond airports, including retail stores, museums, galleries, exhibitions, and conventions. They help to establish clear lanes for customers or visitors to follow, ensuring an orderly flow and efficient management of crowds.
In addition to the standard post-and-rope or retractable belt styles, stanchions can also include advertising panel systems, safety barriers, and other accessories to enhance their functionality and aesthetics. They are a versatile tool for crowd control and can be adapted to suit the specific needs of different industries and events.
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TSA PreCheck
To enrol in TSA PreCheck, travellers can start the application process online or walk into any enrolment centre. The fastest and easiest way is to begin the application online. Applicants can select any enrolment provider based on cost, locations, and additional benefits. Costs for enrolment vary by provider, and there are 569 enrolment centres with some locations open 7 days a week. To renew a membership, this can be done online in as little as 5 minutes.
Children 17 and under can join an adult with TSA PreCheck when the indicator appears on the child's boarding pass. It is not necessary to get TSA PreCheck if you already have Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, or an active TWIC® or Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) with an HME.
TSA uses unpredictable security measures throughout the airport, and all travellers will be screened. About 99% of TSA PreCheck passengers wait less than 10 minutes.
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Runway holding position markings
A runway holding position marking is a designated position intended to protect a runway, an obstacle limitation surface, or an ILS/MLS critical/sensitive area. Aircraft and vehicles that are taxiing are required to stop and hold at the marking unless they are authorised to do otherwise by the aerodrome control tower.
An aircraft between the holding position and the runway is considered to be on the runway as far as ATC operations are concerned. This means that a landing aircraft is not considered to have vacated the runway unless it has passed the holding position. Similarly, a departing aircraft that has moved beyond the holding position is considered to be on the runway, even if it is technically still on the taxiway surface. If the movement beyond the holding position is made without appropriate authorisation, this is considered a runway incursion.
More than one holding position may be defined for a taxiway/runway crossing. The most common reason for this is the presence of a CAT II/III ILS. If the ILS signals can be affected by reflection from an aircraft near the runway, another holding position is defined that is further away from the runway. For example, AB13, AB12, and AB11 are CAT I holding positions, while A13, A12, and A11 are CAT II/III holding positions.
The term "holding position" is used in ICAO documents. However, in radio-telephony, it is replaced by "holding point" to avoid confusion with a similar-sounding instruction in the United States: "Taxi into position and hold," which means something different. To reduce the risk of runway incursions, the ICAO radio-telephony term was changed in September 2010. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amended JO 7110.65 (Air Traffic Control) by replacing "Taxi into position and hold (TIPH)" with "Line up and wait (LUAW)".
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Frequently asked questions
The retractable lines at the airport are called stanchions. They are vertical posts sometimes inserted into the ground or simply put down on the floor to induce orderly behavior. They are also referred to as balusters.
Other names for stanchions include line divider rope, queue divider rope, tape fences, and rope barriers.
Stanchions are usually connected with velvet ropes or a thin ribbon of colored nylon.
