Why Are Some Airport Buildings Painted in a Checkerboard Pattern?

The FAA has determined that some structures need to be more visible than others during daylight hours.

Wednesday, August 30, 2023 at 10:57 AM ET

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The short answer is that the FAA has determined that some structures need to be more visible than others during daylight hours. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

The FAA mandates checkerboard patterns (aviation orange and white) on some airport structures to enhance their visibility during daylight hours.
This high-contrast pattern is typically applied to large obstructions like water, gas, and grain storage tanks, and certain buildings exceeding 10.5 feet with specific dimensions.
The individual squares in the checkerboard pattern should measure between 5 and 20 feet and be as square as possible.
Cylindrical objects, such as communication towers and smokestacks, use horizontal, alternating bands of aviation orange and white instead of checkerboards.

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Question: Why are some buildings at airports painted in a checkerboard pattern and others in solid colors?

Answer: The short answer is that the FAA has determined that some structures need to be more visible than others during daylight hours.

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According to Advisory Circular (AC) 70/7460-1L, “recommendations on marking structures can vary, depending on terrain features, weather patterns, geographic location, and the number of structures.” The AC goes on to state “alternate sections of aviation orange and white paint should be used as the contrast in colors provides maximum visibility of an obstruction.”