Airport Operations

Runway Holding Position Marking Noncompliance with a runway holding position marking may result in the FAA filing a Pilot Deviation against you. Runway holding position markings consist of four yellow lines, two solid and two dashed, that are painted on the surface and extend across the width of the taxiway to indicate where the aircraft should stop when approaching a runway. These markings are painted across the entire taxiway pavement, are in alignment, and are collocated with the holding position sign as described above. Figure 14-10. Runway holding position sign at a location other As you approach the runway, two solid yellow lines and two than the takeoff end of Runway 18-36 with collocated Taxiway dashed lines will be visible. Prior to reaching the solid lines, it Alpha location sign. is imperative to stop and ensure that no portion of the aircraft intersects the first solid yellow line. Do not cross the double Runway 36 is to the right. The sign also indicates that you solid lines until a clearance from ATC has been received. are located on Taxiway Alpha. [Figure 14-13] When the tower is closed or when operating at a nontowered airport, you may taxi onto or across the runway If the runway holding position sign is located on a taxiway only when the runway is clear and there are no aircraft on final at the intersection of two runways, the designations for approach. You should use extreme caution when crossing or both runways are shown on the sign along with arrows taxiing onto the runway and always look both ways. showing the approximate alignment of each runway. [Figure 14-11A and B] In addition to showing the When exiting the runway, the same markings will be seen approximate runway alignment, the arrows indicate the except the aircraft will be approaching the double dashed direction(s) to the threshold of the runway whose designation lines. [Figure 14-14] In order to be clear of the runway, the is immediately next to each corresponding arrow. entire aircraft must cross both the dashed and solid lines. An ATC clearance is not needed to cross this marking when This type of taxiway and runway/runway intersection exiting the runway. geometry can be very confusing and create navigational challenges. Extreme caution must be exercised when taxiing Runway Distance Remaining Signs onto or crossing this type of intersection. Figure 14-11A and Runway distance remaining signs have a black background B shows a depiction of a taxiway, runway/runway intersection with a white number and may be installed along one or both and is also designated as a “hot spot” on the airport diagram. sides of the runway. [Figure 14-15] The number on the In the example, Taxiway Bravo intersects with two runways, signs indicates the distance, in thousands of feet, of landing 31-13 and 35-17, which cross each other. runway remaining. The last sign, which has the numeral “1,” is located at least 950 feet from the runway end. Surface painted runway holding position signs may also be used to aid you in determining the holding position. These Runway Designation Marking markings consist of white characters on a red background Runway numbers and letters are determined from the and are painted on the left side of the taxiway centerline. approach direction. The runway number is the whole number Figure 14-12 shows a surface painted runway holding nearest one-tenth the magnetic azimuth of the centerline of the position sign that is the holding point for Runway 32R-14L. runway, measured clockwise from the magnetic north. In the case where there are parallel runways, the letters differentiate You should never allow any part of your aircraft to cross the between left (L), right (R), or center (C). [Figure 14-16] For runway holding position sign (either a vertical or surface example, if there are two parallel runways, they would show painted sign) without a clearance from ATC. Doing so poses the designation number and then either L or R beneath it. a hazard to yourself and others. For three parallel runways, the designation number would be presented with L, C, or R beneath it. When the tower is closed or you are operating at a nontowered airport, you may taxi past a runway holding position sign only when the runway is clear of aircraft, and there are no aircraft on final approach. You may then proceed with extreme caution. 14-8