What are destination signs?
Same black-on-yellow format as a direction sign, same arrow — but the inscription names a functional area, not a taxiway.
A destination sign shares its entire physical format with the direction sign from Entry 3 — yellow background, black inscription, arrow included — and the two are functionally interchangeable in appearance. The distinction is purely in what the inscription refers to: a direction sign names a specific taxiway designator (a letter or number the pilot can trace on the taxiway chart), while a destination sign names a general functional area of the aerodrome that isn't itself a taxiway — cargo apron, international terminal, de-icing pad, military or general-aviation apron.
Because the destination itself may be reached via more than one taxiway route, the sign doesn't commit the pilot to a single lettered path the way a direction sign does — it points toward the area, and the taxiway designators along the way are picked up from ordinary direction and location signs as the aircraft continues. Abbreviations are kept short so they read at a glance in the taxi phase.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1What is a destination sign?
A sign that shares the exact physical format of a direction sign — yellow background, black inscription, arrow included — but whose inscription names a functional area of the aerodrome rather than a taxiway.
Q2How is a destination sign different from a direction sign?
A direction sign names a specific taxiway designator that the pilot can trace on the taxiway chart. A destination sign names a general functional area that isn't itself a taxiway, such as a cargo apron, international terminal or de-icing pad.
Q3Why doesn't a destination sign commit a pilot to one route?
Because the destination may be reached via more than one taxiway, so the sign points toward the area rather than a single lettered path. The pilot picks up the taxiway designators along the way from ordinary direction and location signs.
Q4What are some examples of destination signs?
Cargo apron, international terminal, de-icing pad, and military or general-aviation apron signs — each guiding traffic toward that functional area with a short abbreviation.
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