Lois Larson
Airport signs and markings are essential for pilots to navigate the complex network of runways, taxiways, and other aircraft movement surfaces. While these signs may initially seem confusing, understanding their meaning and learning how to read them can make navigating airports much easier. This includes comprehending the different sign categories, individual signs, and the actions required when encountering them. Additionally, familiarity with airport layouts, naming conventions, and runway lighting systems is crucial for safe and efficient aircraft operations. By interpreting these signs correctly, pilots can ensure safe taxiing, taking off, and landing procedures, enhancing overall aviation safety.
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What You'll Learn
- Taxiways are named using letters or a combination of letters and numbers
- Signs with a black background indicate the taxiway you're currently on
- Signs with a yellow background and arrows point to the different taxiways at an intersection
- Red background signs indicate an intersection with a runway
- Runways are numbered based on their magnetic heading
Taxiways are named using letters or a combination of letters and numbers
Taxiways are indicated by letters, while runways are designated numerically. For example, a runway with a magnetic heading of 237 degrees will generally be labelled as runway 24. If there are multiple parallel runways, they will be labelled 24L and 24R for left and right, respectively. The letters indicate the plane's position on the taxiway.
Additionally, red background signs indicate an intersection with a runway. When you receive a taxi clearance, it will read something like "Westjet 1208, taxi to and hold short of runway 06L via AJ, A, D, cross 33R". Pilots will then use both the taxiway signs and a paper/electronic airport diagram to navigate via their clearance.
Holding position signs are the airport equivalent of stop signs. If your taxiway intersects with the approach or departure area of a runway, you will see a runway approach area holding position sign accompanied by pavement markings. The sign will list the runway number followed by a dash and either "APCH" or "DEP" depending on whether you are at the approach or departure area of the runway.
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Signs with a black background indicate the taxiway you're currently on
Taxiways are named using letters or a combination of letters and numbers. Signs with a black background indicate the taxiway you're currently on, while signs with a yellow background and arrows point to the different taxiways at an intersection. For instance, if you're on Taxiway Bravo, you will see a sign with a black background indicating "B". This sign tells you that you are on Taxiway Bravo. You may also see other letters like "F" and "S" on the same or other signs, indicating that these taxiways are in the vicinity.
These black signs with yellow letters or a yellow sign with black letters and arrows are meant to guide pilots. However, as a passenger, you can also understand these signs by comparing what you see outside the window to the airport diagram. You can find the airport diagram by searching for the airport's PDF, which will show you the taxiways, runways, and other areas of the airport.
It's important to note that runways are always designated numerically, while taxiways have alphabetic designations. For example, if you see "9", "17", "27", or "35", it refers to a runway. Additionally, the rows of white lines on the runway are called threshold markers, and they indicate the runway width.
Holding position signs are another crucial aspect of airport signage. These signs are similar to stop signs and are used to support aircraft separation during CAT II/III operations. If you encounter a sign with "ILS" or "MLS", it indicates that a specific landing system is in use, and you need to hold your position on the taxiway. These signs are accompanied by pavement markings that specify where you should hold.
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Signs with a yellow background and arrows point to the different taxiways at an intersection
Signs with a yellow background and arrows are known as destination signs. They are used to provide directions to remote locations such as cargo areas, civil aviation areas, runways, terminals, and fixed-base operators. These signs always have an arrow showing the direction of the taxiing route to that destination. Destinations with a common taxiing route are separated by a dot, whereas those with different taxiing routes are separated by a vertical black message divider. Each destination is accompanied by its own arrow.
Destination signs can be outbound or inbound. Outbound destination signs guide the route to takeoff runways. Inbound destination signs guide the route from the runway to the terminal gate. These signs are placed before an intersection, and when the arrow on the sign indicates a turn, it is located prior to the intersection.
Direction signs also have a yellow background with black writing. They identify the designation of the intersecting taxiway(s) leading out of an intersection. Each designation is accompanied by an arrow indicating the direction of the turn.
Information signs also have a yellow background with black text. They advise pilots of information such as areas that cannot be seen from the control tower, applicable radio frequencies, and procedures.
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Red background signs indicate an intersection with a runway
Airport signs are guides that help pilots navigate the complex network of aprons, taxiways, runways, and other surfaces intended for aircraft movement. These signs are colour-coded to make them easily recognisable and interpretable.
Red background signs with white inscriptions are known as mandatory instruction signs. They indicate an entrance to a runway, critical area, or prohibited area. These signs are placed at the holding position on taxiways that intersect with a runway or on runways that intersect with other runways. They contain the designation of the intersecting runway. For example, "15-33" indicates that the threshold for Runway 15 is to the left, and the threshold for Runway 33 is to the right. These signs are crucial for pilots to follow to ensure safe and efficient operations.
Holding position signs are similar to stop signs and are used to support aircraft separation during specific operations. They are often placed on taxiways located in the approach or departure area of a runway to prevent interference with operations on that runway. For instance, if a taxiway intersects with the approach or departure area of a runway, there will be a runway approach area holding position sign, along with pavement markings. The sign will display the runway number followed by "APCH" or "DEP" depending on whether it is the approach or departure area.
Additionally, surface-painted holding position signs with red backgrounds and white inscriptions are used when the width of the holding position on the taxiway exceeds 200 feet (60 meters). These signs are usually placed to the left of the taxiway centerline before the holding position. They supplement the signs located at the actual holding position.
Overall, red background signs with white inscriptions play a vital role in ensuring safe and efficient aircraft operations at airports. They provide clear instructions and warnings to pilots, helping them navigate runways and taxiways effectively.
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Runways are numbered based on their magnetic heading
Runway numbers are based on magnetic headings, which help pilots align with the correct runway. Pilots always reference magnetic headings, and their instruments, such as a heading indicator, will always point in this direction. Many airport runway numbers worldwide are given in terms of degrees magnetic.
The aircraft heading is measured with reference to the magnetic north. If the same convention is used for runways, it will be easy for the pilot to identify the runway and land as the aircraft's heading and the runway will be aligned. For example, if an aircraft is directed to land on runway 09, the aircraft heading will be 090° while landing.
Runway numbers are taken from the magnetic heading of the runway, rounded to the nearest 10 degrees, and then the final zero is removed. So, a runway pointing to 092° is rounded to 090°, resulting in a runway number of "09". You shouldn't find any runway numbered "0" or "00". Any runway pointing to magnetic north will usually be designated "36" (360 degrees). This will also correspond with the headings read out by both ATC and the pilot. When an aircraft is flying north, it is always said to be flying a heading of "three-six-zero", and never "zero zero zero" degrees.
In very big airports, there may be two or even more than three runways pointing in the same direction. There is a naming convention for this scenario, too. A simple rule is followed if there are more than three parallel runways. The next series of runways will have their final digit changed by 1 to avoid any confusion. This is the case even though the 'extra' runway may point in the exact same direction.
Runway names are alphanumeric, based on compass points. Magnetic shifts happen faster the closer to the poles you go, so airports at high latitudes must make more frequent adjustments than airports closer to the equator. For example, the interval of change for Fairbanks International Airport in Alaska is roughly every 24 years.
The overall goal for all navigational aids is to keep the magnetic variation figure used for guidance as closely aligned to the current computed value as modelled by the WMM, within 1 degree, plus or minus.
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Frequently asked questions
Runways are designated numerically, while taxiways are designated alphabetically or a combination of letters and numbers.
A black background with yellow letters or a yellow background with black letters and arrows indicate the taxiway you are on and point to the different taxiways at an intersection. A red background indicates an intersection with a runway.
You will see a runway approach area holding position sign, which will list the runway number followed by a dash and either "APCH" or "DEP" depending on whether you are at the approach or departure area of the runway.
Runway distance remaining signs have a black background with white numerical text and indicate the distance to the end of the runway.
You can do a Google search for " [Airport Code] Airport Diagram" and find a PDF that will show you the layout of the airport, including taxiways and runways.
