ILAM

INSTITUTE OF LOGISTICS AND AVIATION

MANAGEMENT

UNIT 5:Airport Markings & Signs

Air Traffic Control
Introduction:
 Like roads, which take us from our home to our
destination, airports have taxiways which takes us to
and from our runway
 Along those roads (taxiways) exist a variety of
markings and signs provide guidance to pilots
operating on the airport surface during arrival and
departure
 These airport markings and signs, both in the India and
internationally, are standardized by the International
Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to enhance safety
and improve efficiency
Markings break down as:
 Runway Markings
 Taxiway Markings
 Holding Position Markings
 Other Markings
 Mandatory Instruction Signs
 Direction Signs
 Destination Signs
 Location Signs
 Runway Markings:
 Runways Classification:
 There are 3 types of
runways, each with an
associated level of
markings:
1. Visual Runways:
2. Non-Precision Runways:
3. Precision Runway:
Visual Runways:
 Visual runways are marked
with the runway number and
a dashed runway centerline
 Could also include threshold
markings if intended for
international operations
 Aiming points may be
included on runways 4,000'
or longer used by jet
aircraft
Non-Precision Runways:
 Non-precision runways do
not incorporate an electric
glide slope and the
corresponding runway
markings vary
accordingly
 In many cases however,
non-precision runways will
look similar to visual
runways
Precision Runway:
 Precision runways are used when
the runways are served by non-
visual precision approach aids
such as an Instrument Landing
System (ILS) or Precision
Approach Radar (PAR)
 These types of runways typically
provide some type of glide slope
information, including what can
be found on the non-precision
runway the side
stripes, touchdown zone
markings, and fixed distance
markings
Runway Designators:
 Since aircraft are affected by the wind during
takeoffs and landings, runways are laid out
according to the local prevailing winds
 Runways are numbered (designated) to the nearest
10° in relation to magnetic north based on
approach direction
 Example: 084° is marked 08
 Example: 085° is marked 08 or 09

 Example: 086° is marked 09

 Runway Designators:
 This number becomes the runway's name, and is how it is
referenced by Air Traffic Control (ATC) and other pilots
 The opposite end of the runway is then marked with the
reciprocal heading
 Reciprocal heading is determined by adding or subtracting 180°
from the runway heading
 You must therefore add 180 to any runway 180 or below, and
subtract 180 to anything 180 or above
 Example: (using runway 26) 260° - 180° = 080°
 Example: (using runway 08) 080° + 180° = 260°
 If your answer comes out to be greater than 360, or negative,
then you added when you should have subtracted or vice versa
Runway Designators:
 Parallel runways are designated with numbers
but also as "L," "C," and/or "R" which stand for
left, center, and/or right
 Example: 21L, 21C, and/or 21R

 When there are only 2 parallel runways, the

"center" is omitted and only "left" and "right" is
used
Runway Markings:
Runway Centerline Marking:
 Runway centerline markings identify the center of
the runway for guidance on takeoff and landing
 Painted white in color
 One centerline marking is 120' in length and the
gap between markings is 80' giving 200' for a full
set
Runway Aiming Point:
 Aiming point markers serve as a visual target for
landing aircraft
 Consists of two broad white stripes located on each
side of the runway, about 1,000' from the landing
threshold
Runway Touchdown Zone Markings:
 Thin white stripes identifying the touchdown zone for
landing operations and are spaced in 500' (150m)
increments
 Three, two and then one thin striped symmetrical bars
arranged in pairs on each side of runway centerline
 For runways having touchdown zone markings on both
ends, those pairs of markings which extend to within
900' (270m) of the midpoint between the thresholds
are eliminated
Runway Side Stripe Markings:
 White lines identifying the edges of the runway
provide visual contrast between runway and the
abutting terrain or shoulders
Runway Threshold Markings:
 Runway threshold markings identify the beginning
of the runway that is available for landing and
come in two configurations:They either consist of
eight longitudinal stripes of uniform dimensions
disposed symmetrically about the runway centerline,
or the number of stripes is related to the runway
width
Runway Threshold Markings:
 When the stripes that correspond to the width of
the runway:4 stripes = 60' wide
 6 stripes = 75' wide
 8 stripes = 100' wide
 12 stripes = 150' wide
 16 stripes = 200' wide
Taxiway Markings:
 Centerline Markings:Centerline markings provide a
visual cue to permit taxiing along a designated
path
 Ideally, pilots should maintain centerline but be
aware, this does not guarantee wingtip clearance
of obstacles on either side
 Two Types of Taxiway Centerline Markings:
 Normal Taxiway Centerline:
 Enhanced Taxiway Centerline:
Normal Taxiway Centerline:
 Normal taxiway centerlines consist of a single
continuous yellow line, 6 inches (15 cm) to 12 inches
(30 cm) in width

Continuous Centerline
Enhanced Taxiway Centerline:
 At some airports, mostly the larger
commercial service airports, an enhanced
taxiway centerline will be used
 The enhanced taxiway centerline marking
consists of a parallel line of yellow dashes
on either side of the normal taxiway
centerline
 Taxiway centerlines are enhanced for a
maximum of 150 feet prior to a runway
holding position marking as a warning to
pilots that he/she is approaching a runway
holding position marking and should
prepare to stop unless he/she has been
cleared onto or across the runway by ATC
Airport Signs:
 There are six types of signs installed on airfields:
 Mandatory instruction signs,
 location signs,
 direction signs,
 destination signs,
 information signs
 runway distance remaining signs
Mandatory Instruction Signs:
 Mandatory signs have a red background with a
white inscription used to denote an entrance to a
runway or critical area and areas where an aircraft
is prohibited from entering
 Note that holding position signs provides the pilot
with a visual cue as to the location of the holding
position marking
 Runway Holding Position Sign:
 This sign is located at the holding
position on taxiways that intersect
a runway or on runways that
intersect other runways and
contains the designation of the
intersecting runway.
 Runway numbers are arranged to
correspond to the respective
runway threshold
 Example: "15-33" indicates that
the threshold for Runway 15 is to
the left and the threshold for
Runway 33 is to the right
Runway Approach Area Holding
Position Sign:
 At some airports, it is necessary to hold an aircraft
on a taxiway located in the approach or departure
area for a runway so that the aircraft does not
interfere with operations on that runway
 In these situations, a sign with the designation of the
approach end of the runway followed by a "dash"
(-) and letters "APCH" will be located at the holding
position on the taxiway
 Holding position markings will be located on the
taxiway pavement
ILS Critical Area Holding Position
Sign:
 At some airports, when the instrument landing
system is being used, it is necessary to hold an
aircraft on a taxiway at a location other than the
holding position
 In these situations the holding position sign for these
operations will have the inscription "ILS" and be
located adjacent to the holding position marking on
the taxiway
Runway Location Sign:
 Utilizes a black background with a yellow
inscription and yellow border.
 The inscription is the designation of the runway on
which the aircraft is located
 These signs are intended to complement the
information available to pilots through their
magnetic compass and typically are installed where
the proximity of two or more runways to one
another could cause pilots to be confused as to
which runway they are on
Holiding Sign:
 The sign has a yellow background with a black
inscription with a graphic depicting the pavement
holding position marking.
 This sign, which faces the runway and is visible to the
pilot exiting the runway, is located adjacent to the
holding position marking on the pavement
 The sign is intended to provide pilots with another visual
cue which they can use as a guide in deciding when
they are "clear of the runway"
 https://www.cfinotebook.net/notebook/aircraft-
operations/terminal/airport-markings-and-
signs#runway-aiming-point