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RUNWAY MARKINGS

1. Airport pavement markings and signs provide information that is useful to you during
takeoff, landing, and taxiing.
a. Uniformity in airport markings and signs from one airport to another enhances safety
and improves efficiency.
b. The FAA has established recommended standards for markings and signs which you
should understand.
c. Markings for runways are white.
1) Heliport landing areas are also white except for hospital heliports, which use a
red “H” on a white cross.
d. Markings for taxiways, closed areas, hazardous areas, and holding positions (even if
they are on a runway) are yellow.
2. Runway Markings
a. A runway is marked in accordance with its present usage as a visual runway,
nonprecision instrument runway, or precision instrument runway. You can use any of
these runways for takeoff and landing.
1) A visual runway is used for visual flight rules (VFR) operations. Its markings
include

a) Designation marking. Runway numbers and letters are determined from

the approach direction. The runway number is the whole number nearest
one-tenth the magnetic direction of the runway (e.g., a runway with a
magnetic direction of 200° would be designated as runway 20). Letters
differentiate between left (L), right (R), or center (C) parallel runways, if
applicable.
i) For two parallel runways -- “L,” “R”
ii) For three parallel runways -- “L,” “C,” “R”
b) Centerline marking. The runway centerline identifies the center of the
runway and provides alignment guidance during takeoff and landing. The
runway centerline is a dashed line.
c) Optional markings
i) If the runway is used or intended to be used by international
commercial transport, threshold markings are required.
ii) If the runway is 4,000 ft. or longer and is used by jet aircraft, an
aiming point marking is required.
iii) Runway side stripes may be added if necessary.
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2) A nonprecision instrument runway is served by a nonprecision instrument

approach (i.e., no electronic glide slope), and its markings include

a) Designation marking
b) Centerline marking
c) Threshold markings. The runway threshold markings help you to identify
the beginning of the runway that is available for landing. Threshold
markings come in two configurations:
i) Eight longitudinal stripes (four on each side of the centerline)
ii) The number of stripes designated according to the width of the
runway
d) Aiming point marker. The aiming point marker serves as a visual aiming
point during landing. The aiming point markings are two broad white
stripes located on each side of the runway centerline approximately 1,000
ft. from the landing threshold.
e) Optional markings -- runway side stripes
3) A precision instrument runway is served by a precision instrument approach,
e.g., an instrument landing system (ILS). Its markings include

a) All the required markings for a nonprecision instrument runway.

b) Touchdown zone marker. The touchdown zone markings identify the
touchdown zone for landing operations and are coded to provide distance
information in 500-ft. increments.
i) These markings consist of groups of one, two, and three rectangular
bars arranged on each side of the centerline, as shown above.
b. Additional runway markings
1) Side stripe marking. Runway side stripes are continuous white stripes located
on each side of the runway to provide a visual contrast between the runway and
the abutting terrain or shoulders.
2) Runway shoulder markings are yellow and may be used to supplement
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runway side stripes to identify the runway shoulder area that is not intended for
use by aircraft, as shown below.

3) A runway threshold bar is used to mark the beginning of the runway that is
available for landing when the threshold has been relocated or displaced. The
threshold bar is 10 ft. wide, white, and extends across the width of the runway.
a) A relocated threshold is a threshold that is temporarily relocated (due to
construction, maintenance, etc.) toward the departure end of the runway.
i) While methods for identifying the relocated threshold vary, the most
common method is to use a threshold bar to mark the relocated
threshold.
b) A displaced threshold is a threshold that is not at the beginning of the
paved runway.

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i) The paved area before the displaced runway threshold (marked by

arrows) is available for taxiing, the takeoff of aircraft, and a landing
rollout from the opposite direction, but not for landing in the direction
of the runway in question.
ii) A threshold bar is located across the width of the runway at the
displaced threshold.
iii) White arrows are located along the centerline in the area between
the beginning of the runway and the displaced threshold.
iv) White arrowheads are located across the width of the runway
just prior to the threshold bar.
4) Chevrons are used to show pavement areas (e.g., blast pads, stopways, etc.)
aligned with the runway that are unusable for landing, takeoff, and taxiing.
Chevrons are yellow.

5) A demarcation bar separates a runway that has a displaced threshold from a

taxiway or an area marked by chevrons that precedes the runway, as shown
below. The demarcation bar is 3 ft. wide and is colored yellow since it is not on
the runway.

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6) Closed or temporarily closed runway

a) A permanently closed runway has all runway lighting disconnected, all
runway markings obliterated, and yellow crosses placed at each end of
the runway and at 1,000-ft. intervals.

b) A temporarily closed runway is marked by yellow crosses placed only at

each end of the runway.
i) An alternative is to place a raised lighted yellow cross at each end
of the runway.
ii) A visual indication may not be present depending on the reason for
the closure, the duration of the closure, airport configuration, and
the existence (and operating hours) of a control tower.
3. Taxiway Markings
a. The taxiway centerline is a single continuous yellow line that provides a visual cue
to permit taxiing along a designated path.
1) Ideally, your airplane should be kept centered over this line during taxiing to
ensure wingtip clearance.
b. Taxiway edge markings are primarily used to define the edge of the taxiway when
the taxiway edge does not correspond with the edge of the pavement. There are two
types, depending on whether your airplane is permitted to cross the taxiway edge.
1) A continuous marking consists of a continuous double yellow line that should not
be crossed.
2) A dashed marking consists of a broken double yellow line and indicates the edge
of the taxiway where the adjoining pavement is also intended for use by
aircraft, i.e., a parking ramp.
a) These dashed lines are 15 ft. long with 25-ft. gaps.

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c. Taxiway shoulder markings indicate that the paved shoulders along the taxiway are
unusable. Taxiway shoulder markings are yellow.
d. Surface painted taxiway direction signs have a yellow background with a black
inscription and are provided when it is not possible to provide taxiway direction signs
at intersections or when it is necessary to supplement such signs.
1) These markings are located adjacent to the centerline with markings indicating
turns to the left on the left side of the centerline and markings indicating turns to
the right on the right side of the centerline.

e. Surface painted location signs have a black background with a yellow inscription.
1) When necessary, these markings are used to supplement location signs located
alongside the taxiway and to confirm your taxiway designation.
2) These markings are located on the right side of the centerline as shown in the
figure above.
f. Geographic position markings are located at points along low visibility taxi routes
and are used to identify the location of taxiing aircraft during low visibility operations
(i.e., when the runway visual range is below 1,200 ft.).
1) The geographic position marker is positioned to the left of the taxiway centerline
in the direction of taxiing and has a pink background with a black number or a
number and letter, as shown below.
2) The number corresponds to the consecutive position of the marking on the route.
g. Closed or temporarily closed taxiway
1) A permanently closed taxiway has all lighting disconnected and yellow crosses
placed at each entrance of the taxiway and possibly at 1,000-ft. intervals.
2) A temporarily closed taxiway is usually treated as a hazardous area that no part
of the airplane may enter and is blocked with barricades.
a) However, as an alternative, a yellow cross may be installed at each
entrance to the taxiway.

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4. Holding Position Markings

a. Runway holding position markings indicate where an aircraft is supposed to
stop. They consist of four yellow lines, two solid and two dashed, extending across
the width of the taxiway or runway. The solid lines are always on the side where
the aircraft is to hold. Runway holding position markings are encountered at three
locations.
1) On taxiways, these markings identify the location where you are to stop when
you do not have clearance to proceed onto the runway at a controlled airport
or when you do not have adequate separation from other aircraft at an
uncontrolled airport.
a) When exiting the runway, you are not clear of the runway until all parts
of your airplane have crossed the holding position marking.
2) On a runway, these markings are installed only if the runway is used by ATC
for “land, hold short” operations or taxiing.
a) A sign with a white inscription on a red background is installed adjacent
to these holding position markings.
b) A land, hold short operation is one in which ATC instructions are
“Cleared to land runway X; hold short of runway Y.” If a pilot accepts
this, (s)he must exit runway X or stop at the holding position prior to
runway Y.
3) Runway holding position markings are used at some airports when it is
necessary to hold an aircraft on a taxiway located in the approach or departure
area of a runway so that the aircraft does not interfere with the operation on
the runway.
a) This marking is colocated with the runway approach area holding sign.
b. Holding position markings for ILS critical areas consist of two yellow solid
lines spaced 2 ft. apart connected by pairs of solid lines spaced 10 ft. apart
extended across the width of the taxiway, as shown in the figure below.

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1) A sign with an inscription “ILS” in white on a red background is installed adjacent

to these holding position markings.
2) When the ILS critical area is being protected, you must stop at the ILS holding
position unless you have a clearance from ATC to proceed.
c. Holding position markings for taxiway/taxiway intersections consist of one
dashed line extending across the width of the taxiway as shown below. They are
installed on taxiways where ATC normally holds aircraft short of a taxiway
intersection.

1) When the marking is not present and you are instructed by ATC “hold short of
(taxiway),” you should stop at a point which provides adequate clearance from
an aircraft on the intersecting taxiway.
d. Surface painted holding position signs have a red background with the intersecting
runway’s designation in white.
1) These markings may be used to supplement the runway holding position sign
located alongside the taxiway.
2) This type of marking is normally used where the width of the holding position on
the taxiway is greater than 200 ft.

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3) These markings are located on the left side of the centerline and prior to the
holding position marking, as shown in the figure above.
5. Other Markings
a. Vehicle roadway markings are used to define a pathway for vehicle operations
or crossing areas that are also intended for aircraft.
1) Vehicle roadway markings consist of a white solid line to delineate each edge of
the roadway and a dashed line to separate lanes within the edges of the
roadway.
a) An alternative to solid edge lines is the use of zipper markings (staggered
lines).

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b. The VOR receiver checkpoint marking allows you to locate the position on the
airport to perform a ground check of the VOR (VHF omnidirectional range) navigation
instrument in your airplane, if equipped.
1) The VOR receiver checkpoint marking consists of a painted circle with an arrow
in the middle; the arrow is aligned in the direction of the checkpoint direction to
the VOR.
2) This marking and an associated sign are located on the airport ramp (apron) or
taxiway at a point that is easily accessible by aircraft but where other airport
traffic will not be unduly obstructed.
a) The associated sign contains the VOR station identifier and published
course for the check and DME (distance-measuring equipment) data,
when applicable. The sign has a yellow background with black inscription.

c. Non-movement area boundary markings delineate the movement area, i.e.,

the area under air traffic control. These markings are yellow and are located on
the boundary between the movement and non-movement areas.
1) The non-movement area boundary markings consist of two yellow lines, one
solid and one dashed.
a) The solid line is located on the non-movement area side, while the dashed
line is located on the movement area side.

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d. Helicopter landing area markings are used to identify the landing and takeoff
areas at public-use heliports and hospital heliports.
1) The letter “H” in the marking is oriented to align with the intended direction of
approach.
2) A closed heliport will have a yellow cross over the “H.”

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