AGA - 5.0 MARKERS, MARKINGS, SIGNS AND INDICATORS

• 5.1 Aircraft Takeoff or Landing Area Boundary Markers
• 5.2 Air Taxiway Edge Markers
• 5.3 Seaplane Dock Markers
• 5.4 Runway Markings
  • 5.4.1 Displaced Threshold Markings
  • 5.4.2 Stopways
  • 5.4.3 Taxiway Exit and Holding Markings
• 5.5 Heliports
  • 5.5.1 Heliport Takeoff and Landing Area Marking
  • 5.5.2 Safety Area Markers
  • 5.5.3 Heliport Identification Markings
  • 5.5.4 FATO Marking
  • 5.5.5 Helicopter Parking Position Marking
  • 5.5.6 Approach and Take-off Direction Indicator Markings
• 5.6 Closed Markings
• 5.7 Unserviceable Area Markings
• 5.8 Airside Guidance Signs
  • 5.8.1 General
  • 5.8.2 Operational Guidance Signs
  • 5.8.3 Mandatory Instruct on Signs
  • 5.8.4 Illumination of Airside Guidance Signs
• 5.9 Wind Direction Indicators

  5.1 Aircraft Takeoff or Landing Area Boundary Markers

The takeoff or landing area boundaries of aerodromes without prepared runways are indicated by pyramid or cone-type markers (highway-type cone markers are acceptable) or by evergreen trees in winter. No boundary markers are required if the entire movement area is safe for aircraft operations. At airports, the markers will be coloured international orange and white, and at aerodromes, the markers will be coloured solid international orange.

  5.2 AIR TAXIWAY EDGE MARKERS

Air taxiway edges are indicated by markers 35 cm (14 in.) in height, which consist of three equal horizontal bands arranged vertically. The top and bottom bands are yellow and the middle one is green.

  5.3 Seaplane Dock Markers

Seaplane docks are marked to facilitate their identifications. For durability, ease of transportation and installation the marker is made up of 3 interchangeable fibreglass sections. The equilateral triangle formed by the 3 sections measures 8 feet (2.4 m) from apex to apex.

  5.4 Runway Markings

Aeroplane runway markings vary depending on runway length and width, and are described in detail in Transport Canada publication, Aerodrome Standards and Recommended Practices (TP 312E). The colour of the markings is white.

5.4.1 Displaced Threshold Markings

NOTE: When the threshold must be displaced for a relatively short period of time, painting a temporary threshold bar would be impractical. Flags, cones, or wing bar lights would be installed to indicate the position of the displaced threshold. A NOTAM or voice advisory warning of the temporary displacement will contain a description of the markers and the expected duration of the displacement in addition to the length of the closed portion and the remaining usable runway.

5.4.2 Stopways

The paved area preceding a runway threshold prepared and maintained as a stopway may be marked with yellow chevrons. This area is not available for taxiing, the initial takeoff roll or the landing rollout. The chevron markings may also be used on blast pads.

5.4.3 Taxiway Exit and Holding Markings

  5.5 Heliports

5.5.1 Heliport TLOF Marking

When the perimeter of the TOLF is not otherwise obvious, it will be marked by a continuous white line.

5.5.2 Safety Area Markers

The safety area that surrounds the FATO may be indicated by pyramidal, conical or other types of suitable markers or markings.

5.5.3 Heliport Identification Markings

Heliports are identified by a white capital letter “H” centred within the TLOF. Where it is necessary to enhance the visibility of the letter “H,” it may be centred within a dashed triangle. Hospital heliports are identified by a red capital letter “H” centred within a white cross.

The letter “H&” will be oriented with magnetic north, except in the area of compass unreliability, where it will be true north.

5.5.4 FATO Marking

Where practicable, the boundary of the FATO will be indicated by pyramidal, conical or other types of suitable markers. The markers shall be frangible and shall not exceed a height of 25 cm. An aiming point marking will be provided and located in the centre of the FATO, where practicable. Where the direction of the helicopter parking position is not obvious, an indicator will show its direction.

5.5.5 Helicopter Parking Position Marking

Helicopter parking position markings consist of two concentric yellow circles. The diameter of the outer circle shall not be less than 1.2 times the overall length of the longest helicopter for which the helicopter parking position is certified. The diameter of the inner circle is one-third of the size of the outer circle. An “H” marking will be centred within the inner circle.

5.5.6 Approach and Take-off Direction Indicator Markings

There may be heliports where, due to nearby obstacles or noise-sensitive areas, approach and take-off directions are designated. The direction of the approach and take-off paths is indicated by a double-headed arrow, showing their inbound and outbound directions. They are located beyond the edge of the safety area or on the aiming point marking.

  5.6 Closed Markings

Runways, taxiways or portions thereof, and helicopter FATOs that are closed to aircraft operations are marked by white or yellow X’s, 20 ft in length. Snow-covered areas may be marked by X’s formed by conspicuously coloured dye. When a runway, taxiway or helicopter FATO is permanently closed, all markers and markings except the X’s are removed.

  5.7 Unserviceable Area Markings

Unserviceable portions of the movement area other that runways and taxiways are delineated by markings such as marker boards, cones, or red flags and, where appropriate, a flag or suitable marker is placed near the centre of the unserviceable area. Red flags are used when the unserviceable portion of the movement area is sufficiently small for it to be by-passed by aircraft without affecting the safety of their operations.

  5.8 Airside Guidance Signs

5.8.1 General

The primary purpose of airside guidance signs is to provide direction aigns are divided into two categories by using colours to differentind information to pilots of taxiing aircraft for the safe and expeditious movement of aircraft on the aprons, taxiways and runways.

Airside guidance sate between signs that provide guidance or information and signs that provide mandatory instructions.

5.8.2 Operational Guidance Signs

Operational guidance signs provide directions and information to pilots. The inscriptions incorporate arrows, numbers, letters or pictographs to convey instructions, or to identify specific areas.

(a) Location Sign: A location sign has a yellow inscription on a black background and is used to identify the taxiway which the aircraft is on or is entering. A location sign never contains arrows.

(b) Direction Sign: A direction sign has a black inscription on a yellow background and is used to identify the intersecting taxiways toward which an aircraft is approaching. The sign is, whenever possible, positioned to the left-hand side of the taxiway and prior to the intersection. A direction sign will always contain arrows to indicate the approximate angle of intercept. Direction signs are normally used in combination with location signs to provide the pilot with position information. The location sign will be in the centre or datum position. In this configuration, all information on taxiways that require a right turn are to the right of the location sign and all information on taxiways that require left turns are to the left of the location sign.

The only exception to this rule is for a simple “T” or “+” intersection. In this case, the location sign and direction sign may be as depicted below.

When a taxiway continues through the intersection and changes heading by more than 25˚ or changes its designation, a direction sign will indicate this fact.

(c) Runway Exit Signs: A runway exit sign has a black inscription on a yellow background and is used to identify a taxiway exiting a runway. The sign is positioned prior to the intersection on the same side of the runway as the exit. The sign will always contain an arrow and will indicate the approximate angle that the taxiway intersects the runway. When a taxiway crosses a runway, a sign will be positioned on both sides of the runway. Runway exit signs may be omitted in cases where aircraft do not normally use the taxiway to exit or in cases of one-way taxiways.

(d) Destination Signs: A destination sign has a black inscription on a yellow background and is used to provide general guidance to points on the airfield. These signs will always contain arrows. The use of destination signs will be kept to a minimum. Airports with a good direction sign layout will have little need for destination signs.

(e) Other Guidance Signs: Other guidance signs have a black inscription on a yellow background and include information such as stand identification, VOR check point and parking areas.

5.8.3 Mandatory Instruction Signs

Mandatory instruction signs are used to identify mandatory holding positions where pilots must receive further ATC clearance to proceed. At uncontrolled aerodromes, pilots are required to hold at points marked by these signs until they have ascertained that there is no air traffic conflict. Mandatory instruction signs have white letters, numbers or symbols against a red background.

(a) Holding Position Sign: A holding position sign is installed at all taxiway-to-runway intersections at certified aerodromes. A normal holding position sign is used for runways certified for VFR, IFR non-precision, and IFR precision CAT I operations. The sign, when installed at the runway end, shows the designator of the departure runway. Signs installed at locations other than the runway ends shall show the designator for both runways. A location sign is positioned in the outboard position beside the runway designator. A sign will be installed at least on the left side of the taxiway in line with the hold position markings. It is recommended that signs be installed on both sides of the taxiway.

In the following examples, “A” shows that an aircraft is located on Taxiway “A” at the threshold of Runway 25. The second example has the aircraft on Taxiway “B” at the intersection of Runway 25/07. The threshold of Runway 25 is to the left and Runway 07 to the right.

For airports located within the NDA, the same rules apply, except that the sign shows the exact true azimuth of the runway(s).

Holding position signs are also installed at runway-to-runway intersections when one runway is used regularly as a taxi route to access another runway or where simultaneous intersecting runway operations are authorized. In both cases, the signs are installed on each side of the runway.

(b) Category II and Category III Holding Position Signs: CAT II and CAT III holding position signs are installed to protect the ILS or MLS critical area during CAT II and CAT III operations. A sign is installed on each side of the taxiway in line with the CAT II/III hold position marking. The inscription will consist of the designator of the runway and the inscription CAT II, CAT III or CAT II/III as appropriate.

NOTE: Where only one holding position is necessary for all categories of operation, a CAT II/III sign is not installed. In all cases, the last sign before entering a runway will be the normal holding position sign.

(c) No Entry Sign: A no entry sign, as shown below, will be located on both sides of a taxiway into which entry is prohibited.

5.8.4 Illumination of Airside Guidance Signs

Airside guidance signs are illuminated at airports which are used at night or in low visibility. Signs, which are illuminated internally, may be of two types. In one case, the sign face is constructed from material, such as plexiglass, which permits the entire sign face to be illuminated. In the other case, the sign faces incorporate imbedded fibre optic bundles which illuminate the individual letters, numbers and arrows, not the face of the sign. At night or in low visibility, pilots approaching a fibre optic sign will see RED illuminated characters on mandatory instruction signs, YELLOW characters on a location sign, and WHITE characters on all other information signs.

NOTE: At the present time and for several years to come, signs not conforming to this convention will continue to be used. There are still airports which have signs with white characters on a green background. Pilots should be aware of the possibility of confusion, particularly when operating at unfamiliar airports.

  5.9 Wind Direction Indicators

At aerodromes that do not have prepared runways, the wind direction indicator is usually mounted on or near some conspicuous building or in the vicinity of the general aircraft parking area.

Runways greater than 4 000 feet in length will have a wind direction indicator for each end of the runway. It will be located 500 feet in from the runway end and 200 feet outward, usually on the left side.

Runways 4 000 feet in length and shorter will have a wind direction indicator centrally located so as to be visible from approaches and the aircraft parking area. Where only one runway exists, it will be located at the mid-point of the runway 200 feet from the edge.

For night operations the wind direction indicator will be lighted.

NOTE: At aerodromes certified as airports, a dry Transport Canada standard Wind Direction Indicator will react to wind speed as follows:

WIND SPEED	WIND INDICATOR ANGLE
15 KT or above	Horizontal
10 KT	5˚ below horizontal
6 KT	30˚ below horizontal

At aerodromes not certified as airports, non-standard wind indicator systems may be in use which could react differently to wind speed.