A properly designed and standardized taxiway guidance sign system is an essential component
of a surface movement guidance control system. This is necessary for the safe and efficient
operation of an airport.
The sign should include the following:
* Provide the ability to easily determine the designation or name of any taxiway on which the
aircraft is located.
* Readily identify routes toward a desired destination.
* Indicate mandatory holding positions.
* Identify boundaries for approach areas, ILS critical areas, and runway safety areas/obstacle
free zones (OFZ).
There are six (6) types of signs installed on airfields: mandatory instruction signs, location signs,
direction signs, destination signs, information signs and runway distance remaining signs. This
section is a review of AC 150/5340-18C (Standards For Airport Sign Systems). This Advisory
Circular contains the FAA standards for the location and installation of signs on airport runways
and taxiways.
MANDATORY INSTRUCTION SIGNS
Mandatory instruction signs have a red background with a white inscription.
They are used are used to denote:
1. An entrance to a runway or critical area and;
2. Areas where an aircraft is prohibited from entering.
RUNWAY HOLDING POSITION SIGNS
This sign is located at the holding position on taxiways that intersect a runway, or on runways that
intersect other runways. The inscription on the sign contains the designation of the intersecting
runway. The runway numbers on the sign are arranged to correspond to the respective runway
threshold. For example, the sign below "15-33" indicates that the threshold for Runway 15 is
to the left and the threshold for Runway 33 is to the right.
RUNWAY APPROACH AREA HOLDING POSITION SIGN
At some airports, it is necessary to hold an aircraft on a taxiway short of the approach or departure area of a runway so that the aircraft does not interfere with the operations on that runway. In these situations, a sign with the designation of the approach end of the runway followed by a dash and letters "APCH" should be located on the taxiway pavement at the runway approach area.
ILS CRITICAL AREA/PRECISION OBSTACLE FREE ZONE HOLDING POSITION SIGN
When an Instrument Landing System is being used, it is sometimes necessary to hold an aircraft
or vehicle on a taxiway at a location other than the normal holding position location for the runway.
In these situations the holding position sign for these operations will have the inscription "ILS"
and be located adjacent to the holding position marking on the taxiway.
NO ENTRY SIGN
This sign is located in areas where one-way aircraft traffic exist, or where an aircraft may mistake a roadway or other non-movement area as a taxiway.
LOCATION SIGNS
Location signs are used to identify either a taxiway or runway on which the aircraft is located.
Other location signs provide a visual cue to pilots to assist them in determining when they have
exited an area.
TAXIWAY LOCATION SIGN
This sign has a black background with a yellow inscription and yellow border. The
inscription is the designation of the taxiway on which the aircraft is located. These
signs are installed along taxiways, either by themselves or in conjunction with
direction signs.
RUNWAY LOCATION SIGNS
This sign has a black background with a yellow inscription and yellow border.
The inscription is the designation of the runway on which the aircraft is located.
These signs are intended to complement the information available to pilots
through their magnetic compass. Typically, they are installed where the
proximity of two or more runways to one another could cause pilots to be confused as to which
runway they are on.
RUNWAY BOUNDARY SIGN
This sign has a yellow background with a black inscription with a graphic
depicting the pavement holding position marking. This sign faces the
runway and is visible to the pilot exiting the runway. This is intended to
provide pilots with a visual cue, which they can use as a guide in determining when they are "clear of the runway".
ILS CRITICAL AREA BOUNDARY SIGN
This sign has a yellow background with a black inscription with a graphic
depicting the ILS pavement holding position marking. This sign is located
adjacent to the ILS holding position marking on the pavement and can be
seen by pilots leaving the critical area. This sign is another visual cue for
determining when pilots are "clear of the ILS critical area".
RUNWAY DISTANCE REMAINING SIGN
These signs have a black background with a white numerical inscription and may be
installed along one or both side(s) of the runway. The number indicates the distance
(in thousands of feet) of landing surface remaining. The last sign will be located at
least 950 feet from the runway end.
DIRECTIONAL SIGNS
Directional signs have a yellow background with a black inscription. The inscription identifies the
designation of the intersecting taxiway(s) leading out of an intersection that a pilot would normally be expected to turn onto or hold short of. An arrow indicating the direction of the turn
accompanies each designation.
DESTINATION SIGNS
Destination signs also have a yellow background with a black inscription indicating a destination
on the airport. These signs always have an arrow showing the direction of the taxiing route to that
destination. These signs should be located prior to the intersection if a turn is involved.
Destination signs contain information for: runways, taxiways, aprons, terminals, military areas,
cargo areas, general aviation, etc.
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