What are holding-position signs?
White on red, standing beside the taxiway at the runway holding position. The sign that marks where a taxiing aircraft must stop and wait, and names the runway it is waiting for.
A holding-position sign is a mandatory instruction sign, and red is the colour reserved for mandatory signs. It stands at the point beyond which an aircraft or vehicle must not go without clearance, so that a pilot who has lost track of the pavement marking still sees the limit of the taxiway.
1What it looks like
The sign is white inscription on a red background. Only mandatory instruction signs use this pairing, so it cannot be mistaken for the yellow-and-black guidance signs such as the location sign. It is lit or retroreflective so it reads at night and in poor visibility.
2What it says
At a runway holding position on a taxiway, the inscription names the runway ahead as the designators of both ends, for example 27-09; at a runway end, only that end’s designator is shown. At a holding position for low-visibility operations, marked with a pattern B marking, the sign is a category holding position sign: the runway designator followed by CAT I, CAT II, CAT III or a joint form such as CAT II/III.
Terminology. In ICAO Annex 14 terms, a sign that names the runway ahead is the runway designation sign (Entry 7). ICAO’s runway-holding position sign is a different sign: it carries a taxiway designator and a number and marks holding positions that protect an obstacle limitation surface or radio-navigation area. The FAA calls the runway-designation version its “runway holding position sign”.
3Where it stands
It is placed at the runway holding position, beside the taxiway, level with the yellow holding-position marking painted across the pavement. Sign and marking are read together, and where a stop bar is installed, the sign and bar mark the same limit.
| Element | Rule |
|---|---|
| Colour | White inscription on a red background |
| Class | Mandatory instruction sign: must be obeyed |
| Inscription | Runway designators, e.g. 27-09, with a category such as CAT II where low-visibility holding positions apply |
| Marking | Pattern A marking with a runway designation sign; pattern B marking with a category holding position sign |
| Position | At the runway holding position, beside the taxiway and level with the yellow holding-position marking |
| Meaning | Stop. Do not enter the runway without air traffic control clearance |
| Works with | Holding-position marking, stop bars and runway guard lights |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1What colour is a holding-position sign?
White inscription on a red background. Red marks a mandatory instruction sign, one that a pilot must obey.
Q2What do the numbers on a holding-position sign mean?
They are the designators of the runway ahead, for example 27-09, and may be followed by a category such as CAT II where the holding position is set for low-visibility operations.
Q3Where is a holding-position sign located?
Beside the taxiway at the runway holding position, level with the yellow holding-position marking painted on the pavement, so the pilot sees both together.
Q4Can an aircraft pass a holding-position sign without clearance?
No. The sign marks the limit of the taxiway. An aircraft or vehicle must stop there and not enter the runway without clearance from air traffic control.
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