Airport Signs & Markings
Airports have painted markings and signs to provide information aid operations and identify the various runways, taxiways and ramps.
Each runway is identified with large white numbers painted on each end. These numbers may seem arbitrary, but in fact they correspond with the magnetic direction they face. These become the runway's name. For example, Runway 27 is actually called Runway 27.
Sometimes however one or more other runway markings may also be oriented to the same heading, so to differentiate between the runways, the suffixes left, center, and right are also used. Two parallel seven runways would be labeled as seven left and seven right. If there are more than three parallel runways, some of the runways would be assigned a different number. Dashed center stripes are painted on runways to aid pilots with alignment when taking off and landing. The most basic of runways will only include the numbers and center line stripes, however, more sophisticated runways will have additional markings. These markings can identify the runway edges, the threshold, the touchdown zone, and the pilot's aiming point. Finally, additional stripes are used as distance markers, each 500 feet. Not all runways are usable to mark. Runways that are undergoing maintenance, are currently unsafe, or have been permanently closed. Yellow x's are placed on the ends. These markings can be painted on the runway or may be temporary structures. Additional Xs may also be placed at intervals along the rest of the runway.
Runway markings are also used to indicate when certain portions of a runway are not usable for takeoff or landing. If part of the approach end of a runway is usable for taxi and takeoff but not landing, it will be labeled as a displaced threshold and marked with white arrows. Landing on this portion of the runway is not permitted because terrain or man-made obstructions require an airplane's approach path to be relocated farther down the runway to provide adequate clearance. You can, however, use this portion of the runway to slow the aircraft to a stop after touching down during a landing, but only when that landing is from the opposite end of the runway.
Runway pavement that cannot be used for taxi takeoff or landing is marked with yellow chevrons. This area can only be used for emergency overrun or has been placed there to limit ground erosion from jet blast.
To travel between the runways and the parking ramps. Most airports have taxiways. Since runways are labeled with numbers, taxiways are given letter designators. Also, while painted runway markings are white, taxiway markings are yellow. At larger airports, taxiways will have a solid yellow stripe to mark the center of the taxiway and solid double yellow lines to mark the edge of the taxiways.
If an aircraft is trying to land on an airport during inclement weather where fog or clouds are preventing a pilot from being able to land visually, that pilot can potentially utilize that airport's instrument landing system or ILS. This system transmits radio waves from stations on the airport up to the aircraft and guides the pilot down to the runway.
Leading and lead-off lines are painted on the runway to guide aircraft onto and off of the runway.
Good airport signage helps pilots navigate their way around an unfamiliar airport and is important for safety by helping to identify crucial intersections and crossing runways. Taxiway striping and signs work just like roadway stop signs and traffic lights to help prevent traffic conflicts. There are six types of airport signs, mandatory instruction signs, location signs, direction signs, destination signs, information signs, and runway distance remaining signs.
Mandatory instruction signs have a red background with white text. They are used to identify an entrance to a runway or critical area or an area where an aircraft is prohibited from entering.
Similar to direction signs, destination signs look identical to direction signs, but instead instruct a pilot how to get to a certain location. These signs can indicate directions to FBS terminals, customs fueling areas, and other locations.
Finally, there are Runway Distance Remaining sign. These signs consist of white text on a black background and are located on one or both sides of the runway to indicate the distance of runway remaining in thousands of feet. A sign with the number three indicates that at that location there are 3 thousand more feet of runway remaining.
Each runway is identified with large white numbers painted on each end. These numbers may seem arbitrary, but in fact they correspond with the magnetic direction they face. These become the runway's name. For example, Runway 27 is actually called Runway 27.
Sometimes however one or more other runway markings may also be oriented to the same heading, so to differentiate between the runways, the suffixes left, center, and right are also used. Two parallel seven runways would be labeled as seven left and seven right. If there are more than three parallel runways, some of the runways would be assigned a different number. Dashed center stripes are painted on runways to aid pilots with alignment when taking off and landing. The most basic of runways will only include the numbers and center line stripes, however, more sophisticated runways will have additional markings. These markings can identify the runway edges, the threshold, the touchdown zone, and the pilot's aiming point. Finally, additional stripes are used as distance markers, each 500 feet. Not all runways are usable to mark. Runways that are undergoing maintenance, are currently unsafe, or have been permanently closed. Yellow x's are placed on the ends. These markings can be painted on the runway or may be temporary structures. Additional Xs may also be placed at intervals along the rest of the runway.
Runway markings are also used to indicate when certain portions of a runway are not usable for takeoff or landing. If part of the approach end of a runway is usable for taxi and takeoff but not landing, it will be labeled as a displaced threshold and marked with white arrows. Landing on this portion of the runway is not permitted because terrain or man-made obstructions require an airplane's approach path to be relocated farther down the runway to provide adequate clearance. You can, however, use this portion of the runway to slow the aircraft to a stop after touching down during a landing, but only when that landing is from the opposite end of the runway.
Runway pavement that cannot be used for taxi takeoff or landing is marked with yellow chevrons. This area can only be used for emergency overrun or has been placed there to limit ground erosion from jet blast.
To travel between the runways and the parking ramps. Most airports have taxiways. Since runways are labeled with numbers, taxiways are given letter designators. Also, while painted runway markings are white, taxiway markings are yellow. At larger airports, taxiways will have a solid yellow stripe to mark the center of the taxiway and solid double yellow lines to mark the edge of the taxiways.
If an aircraft is trying to land on an airport during inclement weather where fog or clouds are preventing a pilot from being able to land visually, that pilot can potentially utilize that airport's instrument landing system or ILS. This system transmits radio waves from stations on the airport up to the aircraft and guides the pilot down to the runway.
Leading and lead-off lines are painted on the runway to guide aircraft onto and off of the runway.
Good airport signage helps pilots navigate their way around an unfamiliar airport and is important for safety by helping to identify crucial intersections and crossing runways. Taxiway striping and signs work just like roadway stop signs and traffic lights to help prevent traffic conflicts. There are six types of airport signs, mandatory instruction signs, location signs, direction signs, destination signs, information signs, and runway distance remaining signs.
Mandatory instruction signs have a red background with white text. They are used to identify an entrance to a runway or critical area or an area where an aircraft is prohibited from entering.
Similar to direction signs, destination signs look identical to direction signs, but instead instruct a pilot how to get to a certain location. These signs can indicate directions to FBS terminals, customs fueling areas, and other locations.
Finally, there are Runway Distance Remaining sign. These signs consist of white text on a black background and are located on one or both sides of the runway to indicate the distance of runway remaining in thousands of feet. A sign with the number three indicates that at that location there are 3 thousand more feet of runway remaining.