You Cant Land on That

Meadows Field in Bakersfield, California (KBFL) lies at the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley. For purposes of instrument flight, we call this area a huge temperature inversion waiting to happen. And when it does, the minimal visibility means well want to know exactly where we should squeak the tires at the landing end of a precision approach. At KBFL, its not where youd expect at first glance.

Key Takeaways:

• A displaced threshold indicates the official start of a runway for landing, prohibiting pilots from touching down on the pavement before this marked line.
• While landing is restricted before a displaced threshold, the preceding pavement can still be used for taxiing and takeoff.
• These thresholds are typically implemented for obstacle clearance and are distinct from unusable areas like blast pads or stopways.
• Pilots must be aware of displaced thresholds, such as the lengthy one at KBFL, to accurately assess available landing distance and rely on instrument landing system (ILS) guidance.

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