20 Aerodromes -Visual Aids, Markings and Signs

Signs

20.35 General Specification. Signs are provided on aerodromes to convey a mandatory instruction, information on a specific location or destination on a movement area, or to provide other information as required.

20.36 Characteristics. Signs shall be frangible. Those located near a runway or taxiway shall be sufficiently low to preserve clearance for propellers and the engine pods of jet aircraft. Signs shall be rectangular, with the longer side horizontal. The only signs on the movement area utilizing red shall be mandatory instruction signs. Signs showing numbers only refer to runways. Signs shall be reflective and/or illuminated when intended for use at night. Signs shall be illuminated when intended for use:

• In runway visual range conditions less than a value of 800 m, or

• At night in association with instrument runways, or

• At night in association with non-instrument runways where the code number is 3 or 4.

20.37 Mandatory Instruction Signs. A mandatory instruction sign is provided to identify the location beyond which an aircraft taxiing or vehicle shall not proceed unless authorized by the aerodrome control tower. Mandatory instruction signs include runway designation signs, category I, II and III holding position signs, taxi-holding position signs, road-holding position signs and NO ENTRY signs. A pattern “A” taxiholding position marking shall be supplemented at a taxiway/runway intersection or a runway/taxiway intersection with a runway designation sign. A pattern “B” taxi-holding position marking shall be supplemented with a category I, II or III holding position sign. A runway designation sign at a taxiway/runway intersection should be supplemented with a location sign in the outboard (farthest from the taxiway) position as appropriate. A NO ENTRY sign shall be provided when entry into an area is prohibited.

20.38 Locations of Signs. Signs are to be located in positions such that pilots (or vehicle drivers) are able to see the sign. Signs are not to be positioned so as to create hazards to aircraft. Signs are positioned as follows:

• A runway designation sign at a taxiway/runway intersection shall be located at least on the

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20.39 Characteristics. A mandatory instruction sign consists of white letters/numbers on a red background. The inscription on a runway designation sign consists of the runway designator. The inscription on a category I, II or III or joint II/III instrument approach holding position sign consists of the runway designator followed by CAT I, CAT II, CAT III, or CAT II/III, as appropriate. The inscription on a taxi-holding position sign shall consist of the taxiway designation and number.

Figure 20.14 Sign characteristics

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20 Aerodromes -Visual Aids, Markings and Signs

Figure 20.15 Information signs

20.40 Information Signs. Information signs are provided where there is an operational need to identify a specific location, or routing (direction or destination). Information signs include: direction signs, location signs, destination signs, runway exit signs and runway vacated signs. Wherever practicable, they are located on the left-hand side of the taxiway. At a taxiway intersection, information signs are located before the intersection and in line with the taxiway intersection marking. Runway exit signs are located on the same side of the runway as the exit is located (i.e. left or right). A runway vacated sign is located at least on one side of the taxiway to indicate when the aircraft is clear of the sensitive area. Where a runway vacated sign and a taxiway location sign are sited, the taxiway location sign is outboard of the runway vacated sign. A taxiway location sign installed in conjunction with a runway designation sign shall be positioned outboard of the runway designation sign. An information sign other than a location

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20.43 Taxiway Designators. Taxiways are identified by a designator comprising a letter(s) or a combination of a letter(s) followed by a number. When designating taxiways, the use of the letters I, O or X and the use of words such as inner and outer should be avoided wherever possible to avoid confusion with the numerals 1, 0 and closed marking. The use of numbers alone on the manoeuvring area is reserved for the designation of runways.

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