Any area over land or water designed

and equipped and used for arrival and

departure of aircraft is called
aerodromes.
1) Aerodrome Elevation :
The elevation of the highest point of the landing area is
called aerodrome elevation.
2) Aerodrome Reference Point :
The geographical location of the aerodrome and the
reference center of its traffic zone is called aerodrome
reference point .
3) Apron :
The defined area of land aerodrome for stationing of
aircraft for embarking and disembarking of passenger
and for loading and unloading of Cargo.
Runway
Clearway Not exceed 50% of
TORA

500 ft

Slope not exceed 1.25%

The area at the end of the Takeoff Run
Available prepared as a suitable area that the
aircraft can make a portion of its initial climb
to a specified height (35ft) is called clear way
TODA= TORA + CLEARWAY
Stopway
 The area at the end of the Takeoff Run available prepared
as a suitable area for stopping the aircraft incase of
discontinued takeoff is called STOPWAY.
 Stopway yellow chevrons and stopway is in centerline
with the Runway
 Width is same as Runway
 Stopway is not used for normal operation, entry into
stopway is considered as INCIDENT and should be
notified to DGCA within 48 hours .
All the four sides of stopway is lighted
RED steady light.
ASDA = TORA + STOPWAY
Runway centerline marking
Runway centerline marking is white stripe woth gap along
the center of the runway . The length of the gap should not
be less than 50 m or more than 75 m ,

The length of each stripe can be equal to the length of the

gap or 30 m which ever is greater
Threshold Markings
 A threshold marking helps identify the beginning of the
runway that is available for landing.
 Threshold Stripes and Runway Width

4 18 m
6 23m
8 30m
12 45m
16 60m
Displaced Threshold
 A displaced threshold is a threshold located at a point
on the runway other than the designated beginning of
the runway. Displacement of a threshold reduces the
length of runway available for landings.

Aiming Point
 The aiming point marking serves as a visual aiming point
for a landing aircraft. These two rectangular markings
consist of a broad white stripe located on each side of
the runway centerline and approximately 1,000 feet
from the landing threshold
Touchdown Zone
 The portion of a runway, beyond the threshold, where it is
intended landing aeroplane first contact the runway is
called touch down zone

 Runway length and number of stripes :

<900 m 1
900-1200m 2
1200-1500m 3
1500-2400m 4
>2400m 6
Taxiway
 A taxiway is a path for aircraft at an airport connecting
runways with aprons, hangars, terminals and other
facilities. Painted steady yellow centerline
 Rapid Exit Taxiway :

Angle =
25°- 45°
Hold Short Line

It means pilots MUST STOP so that no part of the aircraft extends beyond
the holding position marking.
ILS Critical Area
Hold position markings for ILS critical areas consist of
two yellow solid lines spaced two feet apart
Runway Designation
 Runway designation marking is a two digit number based
on QDM ( Magnetic Course “TO” ) and in case of
parallel runway a Letter is supplemented with the number

A) For Two parallel Runway :

“10L” “10R”

B) For three parallel Runway :

“ 10L” “10C” “10R”

 For Four parallel Runway

“10L” “10R” “10L” “10R”

( In this case the QDM of one pair of runway may be

increased to differentiate from the other pair )
 Aerodrome Signs
 Mandatory Instruction Sign :
Red back ground with White number or letters
 Location Sign :
Black background with yellow Letter
 Direction Sign :
Yellow Background with black letters with arrow
 Runway Distance remaining :
Black background with white number-Thousands of feet
 Destination Sign :
Yellow background Black letters
 Information Sign :
Yellow background with black letters
Aerodrome Lighting
 Approach Lighting System
 Approach lighting system is a lighting system used to
enhance the ability of a pilot to visually acquire the
runway during night or at low visibility condition.
 For an instrument runway, approach lighting system is an
essential part. The approach lighting systems are –
 Simple Approach Lighting System
 Precision Approach CAT 1 lighting
 Precision Approach CAT 2 , CAT 3 lighting
 Simple Approach Lighting

300 m
420 m

15m or 30 m
 Simple approach lighting system consist of a single light
source extending from the threshold towards the approach
path to a distance of 420 m

 A single “ Cross Bar” of 15 m or maximum 30 m wide is

placed at a distance of 300m from the threshold.

 The light is of variable intensity showing towards the

approach path or approaching A/C.
 Precision Approach Lighting
System
30m
300m
900m

150m

30m
 The precision approach lighting system consist of bar or
barrettes of light extending from the threshold towards the
approach area to a distance of 900 m and row of lights
forming a crossbar of 30 m wide at a distance of 300 m
from threshold .

 Distance between the crossbar should be 150 m

 Barrettes are a line closely spaced lights forming a bar. 3

or 5 lights in line .
CAT II CAT III Runway
Runway Edge lights
 Runway edge lights are used at night or in low visibility
condition (RVR<800 m) . It is variable intensity White
light unidirectional 60 m (200 ft) in distance .

 For CAT 1 approach , for lat 600m (2000 ft) 1/3 of the
runway the colour is yellow indicating proximity of end of
runway.
 Runway Center line lights
 Runway center line lights are used for CAT II , CATIII
runways.
 They are fixed unidirectional white lights.
 They are white light from threshold to the point
900m(3000 ft) from the end of the runway.
 From 900 m to 300 m from the runway it is alternating
white and red and last 300 m (1000 ft) is fixed red
marking the end of runway.
 30 m length
 Touchdown Zone Lights
 Touch down zone lights shall be provided to the touch
down zone of precision approach CATII ,CAT III
runways.
 They Start from threshold to a distance of 900 m , except
that if the runway length is less than 1800 m then the
system can be shortened so that it wont exceed the mid
point of the runway.
 Longitudinal spacing of touch down zone lights can be
either 30 m or 60 m in length.
 Lateral Spacing 18m /22.5 m
 White variable intensity unidirectional lights.
Taxiway Lights
 Taxiway centerline lighting are green in the centerline of
taxiway except Exit Taxiway shows alternating green and
yellow
 Exit Taxiway (or) Runway Leadoff lights –
Alternating Green and Yellow
PAPI-Precision Approach Path
Indicator
VASI (Visual Approach Slope
Indicator
Tri colour VASI