Runways, markings, signs and lighting
10 min readLesson 34 of 59
By the end of this lesson you'll be able to:
- Read runway numbers and markings
- Identify airport signs and hold short lines
- Interpret VASI, PAPI and airport lighting
Runway numbers and markings
Runway numbers are the runway's magnetic direction rounded to the nearest 10°, without the last zero. Runway 21 points about 210° magnetic; the other end is Runway 3.
- Displaced threshold: white arrows lead to a white bar. You can use the area before the bar for takeoff and rollout, but not for landing.
- Yellow chevrons (blast pads or stopways): not usable for taxi, takeoff or landing.
- Aiming point and touchdown zone markings help with landing.
Hold short markings
Where a taxiway meets a runway, four yellow lines cross the taxiway: two solid and two dashed. Approaching the runway, you see the solid lines first: stop there until cleared. Leaving the runway, you're clear once your whole airplane is past the dashed side.
Airport signs
| Sign | Looks like | Means |
|---|---|---|
| Mandatory instruction | White text on red | Runway holding position, ILS critical area, no entry. Don't cross without a clearance. |
| Location | Yellow text on black | The taxiway or runway you're on |
| Direction | Black text on yellow with arrows | Which way other taxiways go |
| Destination | Black on yellow | Direction to places like the ramp or a runway |
| Runway distance remaining | White number on black | Thousands of feet of runway left |
Lighting
- Rotating beacon: white and green flashes mark a lighted civilian land airport. Seeing it on during the day at an airport in Class B, C, D or E surface area may mean the weather is below VFR.
- Runway edge lights are white; threshold lights green; runway end lights red; taxiway edge lights blue.
- VASI (two bars): "Red over white, you're all right. Red over red, you're dead. White over white, you're high as a kite."
- PAPI (four lights in a row): two white and two red means on the glide path. More white is high; more red is low.
- Pilot-controlled lighting: click the mic on the published frequency: 7 times in 5 seconds for high intensity, 5 for medium, 3 for low.
Key takeaways
- Runway numbers are magnetic heading ÷ 10.
- Hold short: stop on the solid side. Red mandatory signs need a clearance.
- PAPI: 2 white + 2 red = on glide path. Pilot-controlled lights: 7/5/3 clicks.
What the examiner may ask
Practice answering out loud before you open each answer.
What does a red sign with white text mean?
A mandatory instruction sign, like a runway holding position. Don't proceed without a clearance (at a towered airport).
How do you activate pilot-controlled lighting?
Click the mic on the published frequency: 7 times in 5 seconds for high, 5 for medium, 3 for low.
What does a rotating beacon on during the day mean?
At an airport in Class B, C, D or E surface area, it may mean the weather is below basic VFR (ceiling under 1,000 ft or visibility under 3 SM).
Common mistakes
- Crossing hold short lines without a clearance at a towered airport.
- Landing on the displaced threshold area.
- Not having the airport diagram out while taxiing.
Read it in the FAA sources
Lesson check
Get every question right to complete the lesson. Take your time; wrong answers explain why.
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