Runway markings

What visual aids does an aerodrome give you?

Four groups

Paint, lights, signs and distances. Tap a box with + to open it.

• Visual aids ICAO Annex 14 The markings, lights, signs and markers that guide aircraft on and around the aerodrome, together with declared distances and the wildlife and FOD hazard programmes.
  • Markings runway white, taxiway yellow Paint on the pavement. Runway markings are white; taxiway, runway turn pad and aircraft stand markings are yellow; apron safety lines are red in India.
    • Runway designation nearest 10 degrees, L/C/R Magnetic heading rounded to the nearest 10 degrees.
    • Runway centre line 30 m stripes Evenly spaced stripes and gaps along the runway centre line. A stripe plus a gap is 50 to 75 m, and each stripe is at least the gap length or 30 m.
    • Threshold stripes 4 to 16, by width Longitudinal stripes starting 6 m from the threshold. Their number follows runway width: 4 on 18 m, 6 on 23 m, 8 on 30 m, 12 on 45 m, 16 on 60 m.
      • Displaced threshold transverse stripe and arrows A transverse stripe is added at a displaced threshold, with arrows on the runway before it. If temporary, earlier markings are obscured except the centre line, which becomes arrows.
      • Unfit pavement over 60 m yellow chevrons When the paved surface before a threshold is over 60 m long and unfit for normal use, its whole length is marked with yellow chevrons pointing toward the runway.
    • Aiming point and touchdown zone aiming point 150 to 400 m in Touchdown zone markings come in pairs at 150 m intervals.
    • Taxiway centre line yellow, 15 cm An unbroken yellow line, 15 cm wide or more, that leads you from the runway centre line to the parking stands. It breaks only where there is a holding position marking.
      • Runway holding positions Pattern A and Pattern B Pattern A is used at non-instrument, non-precision and take-off runways and as the hold nearest a precision runway. Where there are two or three holds, the farther ones use Pattern B.
  • Lights approach, slope, surface Aerodrome lighting: the beacon to find the field, approach lights and PAPI to line up and judge the slope, then runway and taxiway lights on the ground.
    • Aerodrome beacon 20 to 30 flashes a minute Shows coloured flashes alternating with white, or white only, at 20 to 30 flashes a minute. Coloured flashes are green at land aerodromes and yellow at water aerodromes.
    • Approach lighting simple 420 m, Cat I 900 m A simple system runs at least 420 m out from the threshold with a crossbar at 300 m. A precision Cat I system runs 900 m with a 30 m crossbar at 300 m.
    • PAPI and APAPI 4 units and 2 units The usual lights that show you the approach slope. PAPI is a bar of four light units and APAPI a bar of two, normally on the left of the runway.
    • Runway lights edge, threshold, end, centre line Edge lights are variable white (red before a displaced threshold, may be yellow near the far end); threshold and wing bar lights are green; runway end lights are red.
    • Taxiway lights edge blue, centre line green Taxiway edge lights are fixed blue. Taxiway centre line lights are fixed green, alternating green and yellow on an exit taxiway near the runway.
  • Signals and signs ground signals, signs Ground signals shown to pilots (wind indicator, landing T, signal lamp, signal area) and the signs on the movement area.
    • Ground signals wind, landing T, lamp The indicators and signalling devices of the aerodrome: wind direction indicator, landing direction T, signalling lamp and signal area.
      • Wind direction indicator at least one required Every aerodrome must have at least one, visible from the air and the movement area and clear of air disturbed by nearby objects. At least one should be lit for night use.
      • Landing direction T If there is one, the landing direction indicator is a large T, placed where it is easy to see on the aerodrome.
      • Signalling lamp red, green, white Provided in the control tower at a controlled aerodrome.
      • Signal area at least 9 m square A flat, level square of 9 m by 9 m or bigger, in a colour that stands out against the signal panels, with a white border of 0.3 m or more around it.
    • Mandatory instruction signs white on red White on red. They mark a place a taxiing aircraft or vehicle must not pass without tower authorisation, such as runway designation, holding position and NO ENTRY signs.
    • Information signs location and direction Give location or routing: direction, location, destination, runway exit, runway vacated and intersection take-off signs. Location signs are yellow on black; the others black on yellow.
  • Distances and safety declared distances, hazards The declared runway distances, and the aerodrome programmes that control wildlife and foreign object debris hazards.
    • Declared distances TORA, TODA, ASDA, LDA TORA is the runway for the take-off ground run; TODA adds any clearway; ASDA adds any stopway; LDA is the runway for the landing ground run.
    • Wildlife hazard Birds and other animals on and near the aerodrome are a serious hazard, so operators run a wildlife hazard management programme to stop collisions with aircraft.
    • FOD control FOD is any object on the movement area with no aeronautical function that could harm aircraft. A FOD control programme covers prevention, detection, removal and evaluation.

Takeaway: Paint shows where you are, lights do it at night, signs say what to do, declared distances say how much runway you have.

What does the paint on a runway tell you?

Runway paint

From the threshold inwards: stripes, number, aiming point, touchdown pairs. Bigger runways get more paint.

Memory hook: Both counts skip a step at the top: stripes jump 8 to 12, pairs jump 4 to 6.

Takeaway: Stripes grow with width: 4, 6, 8, 12, 16. Touchdown pairs grow with landing distance: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, every 150 m.