TOPIC 9

Visual Aids for Navigation

 Aerodrome Reference Code

Reference code used for construction & planning
purposes

It has 2 elements

1st– Number based

on the aero plane
reference field length

2nd– Based on the

a/c wing span &
outer main gear wheel span – IS A LETTER
 PCN – Pavement Classification Number

To indicate strength of a runway, taxiway or apron

Only used for paved areas

 ACN – Aircraft Classification Number

Single unique number expressing the relative effect of an
a/c on a paved area relating to pavement type & thickness

From 0 to no upper limit

Each a/c has an ACN

If ACN > PCN, that a/c can’t land on that runway

RUNWAY MARKINGS
RUNWAY -> WHITE
Runway Designation Marking
Two Digit Number along with a letter for parallel runways
Runway orientations are based on Magnetic Heading.
Min distance between two aircraft on approach is
610m.

2 – ‘L’, ‘R’
3 – ‘L’, ‘C’, ‘R’
4 – ‘L’, ‘R’, ‘L’, ‘R’
5 – ‘L’, ‘C’, ‘R’, ‘L’, ‘R’; or ‘L’, ‘R’, ‘L’, ‘C’, ‘R’
6 - ‘L’, ‘C’, ‘R’, ‘L’, ‘C’, ‘R’

Runway Centre Line Marking

Length:
Stripe – Equal to gap or 30 m, whichever greater
Stripe + Gap – Min. 50m & Max 75m
Width – 0.90m on precious approach CAT 2 & 3 rwy;
-0.45m on non-precious approach rwy with code no. 3 & 4 and
precious approach category 1 runways
- 0.30m on NPA rwy with code 1 or 2 and on non-
instrument runways

Threshold Markings

Runway Width No. of Stripes

18 m 4
23 m 6
30 m 8
45 m 12
60 m 16

1) Takeoff Run Available (TORA)

Length of runway declared available and suitable for the
ground aeroplane taking off

2) Takeoff Distance Available (TODA)

TORA + Clearway (35ft in air)

3) Accelerate Stop Distance Available (ASDA)

TORA + Stopway (on ground)

TORA = ASDA, if no stopway present.

4) Landing Distance Available (LDA)

 Length of runway declared available and suitable for
ground run of an aero plane landing

Clearway (CWY) – A defined rectangular area on the

ground or water over which an a/c make makes a portion of
its initial climb to a specified height. Laterally minimum
75m on each side of extended center line of runway.

Stopway (SWY) – Area where an a/c can be stopped in

case of an abandoned take-off only.

TAXIWAY MARKING

1) Taxiway Centre Line Lights

 Green, unless for exit taxiway
Alternate Green & yellow, For exit taxiway
Max interval spacing 30 m except in some cases
Taxiway Edge Lights
Blue
Max intervals of 60 m in between

Runway Centre Line lights

White
centreline lighting consists of alternating red and
white lights beginning at 900 metres from the
runway end and these change to continuous red
lights for the last 300 metres of the runway(imp)

Runway edge lights

white, except on instrument runways yellow replaces
white on the last 2,000 feet(900m).

2) A/c stand maneuvering guidance lights

Yellow

3) RETILS – Rapid Exit Taxiway Indicator Lights

4) ARIWS– Autonomous Runway Incursion Warning

System
Provides autonomous detection of a potential incursion or
of the occupancy of a active runway and a direct warning
to a flight crew or vehicle. (red warning lights illuminates
in the threshold area)

BARRETTE: Three or more ground lights closely spaced

together to appear as bar of lights
MANDATORY INSTRUCTION SIGNS
-Provided to identify a location beyond which an a/c taxiing
or vehicle shall not proceed unless authorized by the AD
control tower

- Includes runway designation signs, cat I, II, III holding

position sighs, runway holding position signs, road-holding
positions signs and NO ENTRY signs.

INFORMATION SIGNS(DGCA)
Inscription in black on a yellow background ground

LOCATION SIGN(DGCA)
An inscription in yellow on a black background
Rembeber(Black square, you are there)
MANDATORY SIGNS(DGCA)
An Inscription in white on a red background

PAPI- Precision Approach Path Indicator

It’s mounted as a wing bar of 4 sharp transition multi-lamp or
paired units equally spaced. Indicates glide path of the a/c on
approach
Correct / Normal glide path – 2 Red & 2 White

VASIS – Visual Approach Slope Indicator System

Provided where there is turbo jet operation taking place,
whether or not the runway is served by visual /non-visual
approach aids –