What are stand and gate identification signs?
The last step of a taxi route. A number on the pavement tells the pilot which stand to park on, and a number in the terminal tells the passenger which gate to walk to.
Taxiway signs get an aircraft to the apron. Stand and gate identification finish the job. They name the exact parking position for the pilot and the exact boarding point for the passenger, so that ground control, the flight crew and ground staff all use the same stand number for the same parking position, while the passenger follows the gate.
1The stand: for the pilot
ICAO practice places the stand identification, a letter and/or number, in the lead-in line, a short distance after the line begins. It is sized to be readable from the cockpit of the aircraft using the stand. Where a stand sign is also provided, it repeats the same number for the crew and ground staff.
2The gate: for the passenger
A gate sign is the terminal-side counterpart. It tells passengers where to board. It is chosen and laid out by the airport, and it is not one of the standard taxiway-style sign types, so there is no fixed colour pairing to learn.
3Why the two are kept apart
A stand is a place on the apron and a gate is a place in the terminal. They are often paired, as in the diagram, but one gate may serve several stands, and the numbers need not match. The aircraft is told its stand, and the passenger is told the gate.
| Element | Rule |
|---|---|
| Stand identification | Letter and/or number on the stand lead-in line, a short distance after the line begins |
| Legibility | Large enough to be read from the cockpit of the aircraft using the stand |
| Stand sign | Where provided, a sign at the stand repeating the number for pilot and ground crew; ICAO Annex 14 specifies a black inscription on a yellow background |
| Gate sign | In the terminal, showing the boarding gate for passengers |
| Stand versus gate | Stand is the airside parking position; gate is the passenger boarding point; numbers may differ |
| Colours and layout | Stand identification sign: black on yellow (ICAO). Gate sign: chosen by the airport, with no fixed colour pairing |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1What is a stand identification sign?
The letter and/or number that identifies an aircraft stand. ICAO practice puts it in the lead-in line, a short distance after the line begins, large enough to read from the cockpit.
Q2What is the difference between a stand and a gate?
A stand is the airside parking position for an aircraft. A gate is the passenger boarding point in the terminal. The numbers may match or may not, depending on the airport.
Q3Who reads these signs?
Pilots and ground crew read the stand identification. Passengers read the gate sign. Air traffic and apron control use the stand number when directing an aircraft.
Q4Do these signs need lighting?
Where they must be read at night or in poor visibility, they are lit or retroreflective, and apron lighting helps. Requirements depend on the airport and regulator.
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