ICAO Recommended Airport Signs and Runway
Markings

MANDATORY SIGNS
Mandatory signs are red, with white inscriptions. They denote an entrance to a runway or critical
area. At controlled airports, a pilot is required to hold unless cleared by ATC. At uncontrolled
airports, use appropriate precautions prior to proceeding. The signs are located wherever physically
practicable on each side of a taxiway (left-hand side only in some cases).

TAXIWAY RUNWAY HOLDINGS AND ASSOCIATED RUNWAY INTERSECTION SIGNS
A taxiway holding position marking is always supplemented with a taxiway/runway intersection sign.
More than one holding position marking may be displayed when operations on the runway are
conducted in different visibility conditions. Taxiway markings are yellow.

HOLDING POSITION MARKINGS
A. Where a taxiway intersects a non-instrument, non-precision approach, precision approach
Category I or take-off runway; or where a single taxi-holding position is provided at an intersection of
a taxiway and a cat II/III runway.

B. Category II or III taxi-holding position marking where a closer taxi-holding position to the runway
is available.

Where the taxi-holding position marking farther from runway exceeds 60m in length the term CAT II
or CAT III as appropriate is marked on the surface at the ends of the taxi-holding position marking.

TAXIWAY INTERSECTION MARKING
A taxiway intersection marking is displayed at the intersection of two paved taxiways.

RUNWAY INTERSECTION SIGNS

Taxiway intersects runway 15-33. Runway 15 threshold is to the left, runway 33 threshold is to the
right. Arrangement of the numbers indicates direction to the corresponding runway threshold.

Taxiway intersects the beginning of the take-off runway 33. (The sign at each take-off end contains
only the runway number for the take-off runway while all others contain both runway numbers).

Indicates a category II taxi-holding position.

Indicates a category III taxi-holding position.

Indicates a joint category II/III taxi-holding position.

Indicated that entrance to an area is prohibited.

TYPICAL SIGNS AT TAXI-HOLDING POSITIONS
ASSOCIATED TAXI MARKINGS ALSO SHOWN

INFORMATION SIGNS (LOCATION & INFORMATION)
Information signs consist of either yellow inscriptions on a black background or black inscriptions on
a yellow background.

Location signs identify the location on the taxiway and are located wherever practical on the left hand
side. At intersections of two taxiways the sign is located prior to the intersection.

Destination signs are located on the same side of a taxiway (left or right) as the direction to the
location to be indicated.

The inscriptions include an arrow indicating the direction to be followed and a number, word or
abbreviation that identifies the destination. At an intersection the destination sign is normally placed
before the intersection.

DESTINATION SIGNS

Indicates the direction to runway 10 as well as to cargo area.

Indicated how to proceed to taxiways 3, 4, and 8.

INFORMATION SIGNS

Serves both as destination and location sign. It indicates that runway 10 and Cargo area are straight
ahead and that entry to the taxiway on the right is prohibited.

It indicated that runway 18 is to the right and 2000m of the runway length is available for take-off.

Note: Generally, signs should be lighted if the runway or taxiway on which they are installed is lighted.

ICAO RECOMMENDED RUNWAY MARKINGS

Runway markings are white.

THRESHOLD MARKINGS
Threshold markings consist of longitudinal stripes of uniform dimensions disposed symmetrically
about the centerline of a runway. The number of stripes shall be in accordance with the runway
width as follows:

RUNWAY WIDTH

NUMBER OF STRIPES

18m

4

23m

6

30m

8

45m

12

60m

16

Where a runway designator is placed within a threshold marking, there shall be a minimum of three
stripes on each side of the runway centerline. Stripes are at least 30m long.

RUNWAY DESIGNATION MARKING
A runway designation marking consists of a two-digit number located at the threshold. On parallel
runways each runway designation number is supplemented by a letter, in the order shown from Left
to Right when viewed from the direction of approach.

RUNWAY CENTERLINE MARKING
A runway centerline consists of a line of uniformly spaced stripes and gaps located along the
centerline of the runway. Stipes are normally 30m long, gaps 20m long.

RUNWAY TOUCHDOWN ZONE MARKINGS AND FIXED DISTANCE MARKINGS
A touchdown zone marking is provided in the touchdown zone of a precision approach runway,
except where the appropriate authority considers such marking unnecessary, after taking into
account typical weather conditions and the air traffic using the aero drome.

A touchdown zone marking consists of pairs of rectangular markings symmetrically disposed about
the runwy cecnterline. The number of pairs are related to the length of runway as follows:

RUNWAY LENGTH

PAIR(S) OF MARKINGS

less than 900m

1

less than 1200m but
not less than 900m

2

less than 1500m but
not less than 1200m

3

less than 2100m but
not less than 1500m

4

2100m or more

6

Touchdown zone marking is always provided at longitudinal spacings of 150m beginning from the
threshold, with a fixed distance marking (rectangular markings 45m to 60m in length) at 300m from
threshold symmetrically disposed on each side of the runway centerline. For non-precision approach
runways, touchdown markings are not provided. Fixed distance markings are provided on runways
1800m and over.

SIDE STRIPE MARKINGS
Runway edges are highlighted by continuous stripes located along each side between the thresholds
of a paved runway. Side stripe markings are normally provided only on precision approach runway
and those non-precision runways where the is a lack of contrast between the runway edges and the
shoulders of the surrounding terrain.

Side stripes are located no more than 30m from the runway centerline regardless of runway width.

DISPLACED THRESHOLD MARKINGS

CLOSED RUNWAYS AND TAXIWAYS OR PARTS THEREOF
A closed marking of the form of a cross (yellow or white) displayed on a runway or taxiway or portion
thereof, which is permanantly closed to the use of all aircraft

PRE-THRESHOLD AREA MARKING (CHEVRON MARKING)
When the paved surface before a threshold exceeds 60m in length and is not suitable for use by
aircraft, the entire length is marked with a chevron marking (preferably yellow) pointing in the
direction of the runway threshold.

The boundary between load-bearing surfaces and nonload-bearing surfaces, such as shoulders for
taxiways, holding bays, aprons, and other nonload-bearing surfaces which, if used, might result in
damage to the aircraft, are indicated by a taxi side stripe. This marking consists of a pair of solid
lines the same color as the taxiway centerline marking.