Planes land safely thanks to fresh coat of runway paint at Toronto Pearson Airport in Mississauga

The shortest of the five runways at Toronto Pearson Airport in Mississauga just got a little safer, and more pleasing to the eye, thanks to a fresh coat of paint.

On Thursday, Airfield Maintenance Facility workers at Canada’s biggest and busiest airport put the finishing touches on the revamped bright white markings located on the parts of Runway 06Right/24Left where numerous aircraft of all sizes land at Pearson every day.

Known as “runway touchdown zones,” landing sections of each of the five runways feature the easy-to-spot markings that help airline pilots safely land hundreds of daily incoming flights, airport officials say.

The most recent work saw the centre line of Runway 06Right/24Left, one of three east-west landing strips at the airport, receive a fresh paint job, Pearson officials said in a post to social media on Thursday.

“This is the critical spot where aircraft touch down when landing at the airport,” they said. “Between plane landings, vehicle traffic and weather, these markings can wear away over time. When the lines start to fade, our crews spring into action to give the markings a revamp.”

Airport officials added maintenance crews use about 50,000 litres of paint every year “to ensure runways at Toronto Pearson meet safety standards.”

While Runway 06Right/24Left checks in as the shortest of Pearson’s five runways, at 2,744 metres, Runway 05/23 is the airport’s longest runway, stretching out some 3,390 metres, also from east to west, according to airport officials.

Runway 05/23 is also located farthest to the north of Pearson’s landing strips (see map below).

Image shows the five runways at Pearson Airport in Mississauga. (Image: Greater Toronto Airports Authority)

(Cover photos: Toronto Pearson Airport)