Airport Signs & Markings

Movement Area

Areas of an airport used for aircraft taxiing, takeoff, and landing, excluding parking aprons and loading ramps.

Air Traffic Control (ATC)

Strictly controls the movement area; pilots and ground personnel must obtain explicit ATC clearance prior to entering or operating within this zone.

Nonmovement Area

Taxiways, aprons, and ramp areas that are not under direct ATC control.

Access to Nonmovement Area

Vehicles, aircraft, and personnel may maneuver within these zones without specific ATC clearance, following local airport apron rules.

Nonmovement Area Boundary Markings

Consists of two yellow lines: one solid line (on the nonmovement side) and one dashed line (on the movement side).

Importance of Airport Markings

Provide vital visual orientation and guidance for pilots, ensuring operational safety on taxiways and runways.

White Markings

Reserved exclusively for runways, including threshold markings, centerlines, aiming points, touchdown zones, edge stripes, and runway identifiers.

Yellow Markings

Reserved for taxiways, holding positions, closed or hazardous areas, blast pads, stopways, and displaced threshold arrows.

Runway Identification

Identified by a two-digit magnetic heading rounded to the nearest 10 degrees.

Runway Numbering Exception

Exceptions for numbers that start with zero (e.g., 09 becomes Runway 9).

Runway Centerlines

Consist of uniformly spaced white stripes and gaps along the physical center of the runway.

Threshold Markings

Pattern of longitudinal white stripes located at the landing threshold; the total number of stripes indicates runway width.

Aiming Points

Broad white rectangular blocks located approximately 1,000 feet from the threshold, serving as a visual landing target.

Runway Side Stripes

Continuous white stripes defining the lateral boundaries of the usable pavement along both edges.

Displaced Thresholds

Located at a point along the runway other than the physical start; usable for taxiing and takeoff runs but prohibited for landing touchdown.

Demarcation Bars

A 3-foot wide yellow bar extending across a runway/taxiway to separate a displaced threshold from an adjacent blast pad or stopway.

Blast Pads

Paved areas constructed beyond runway ends to mitigate soil erosion caused by jet exhaust.

Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS)

Installed in the runway safety area beyond runway ends using lightweight, crushable concrete blocks to safely stop overrunning aircraft.

Closed Runway Markings

Indicated by yellow crosses placed at runway ends and at 1,000-foot intervals along the entire surface.

Temporarily Closed Runways

Marked with yellow crosses placed at both ends of the runway.

Taxiway Markings

Continuous single yellow line outlining the center of the taxi path.

Mandatory Instructional Signs

Red background with white lettering; signifies holding positions or prohibited entry without ATC clearance.

Location Signs

Black background with yellow text and a yellow border; identifies the specific taxiway or runway the aircraft is currently located on.

Direction Signs

Yellow background with black text and directional arrows; indicates approaching taxiway intersections and turn directions.

Runway Distance Remaining Signs

Black background with white numbers indicating remaining usable runway length in thousands of feet.