How are taxiway lights laid out?
Green centreline and blue edge lights mark the route, and red stop bars and yellow guard lights protect each runway entry.
A taxiway lighting layout is the plan of lights that guides an aircraft from the apron to the runway and back. Along the route, green centreline lights mark the path and blue edge lights mark the pavement limits, so the pilot can follow the route and stay on the pavement at night and in poor visibility.
Where a taxiway meets a runway the layout adds protection. A red stop bar across the taxiway at the holding position stops the aircraft until the controller switches it off, and yellow runway guard lights beside the taxiway warn that it leads onto an active runway. Spacing is closer on curves than on straights, so the pilot can read the shape of the turn.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1What is a taxiway lighting layout?
The arrangement of the lights that guide aircraft along taxiways: green centreline lights, blue edge lights, and the stop bars, holding position lights and guard lights at the points where a taxiway meets a runway.
Q2Which lights make up a taxiway lighting layout?
Green centreline lights and blue edge lights along the route, red stop bars and yellow runway guard lights at runway holding positions, yellow intermediate holding position lights, and signs. A night taxiway needs centreline lights, edge lights or both, and edge lights are provided where there are no centreline lights.
Q3Why are taxiway lights closer together on curves?
On a curve the pilot sees fewer lights ahead, so they are placed closer to show the shape of the turn. ICAO Annex 14 allows centreline lights up to 30 m apart on a straight section (15 m where the taxiway is used in RVR below 350 m) but steps the spacing down on a curve according to its radius (30 m for 900 m or more, 15 m for 401 to 899 m, 7.5 m for 400 m or less), and edge lights are spaced closer on curves than the 60 m maximum on straight sections.
Q4What do stop bars and runway guard lights do?
A red stop bar across the taxiway at a runway holding position tells the pilot to stop until it is switched off. Runway guard lights are flashing yellow lights at the same position that warn that the taxiway leads onto an active runway. Both are there to prevent runway incursions.
Q5Why do exit taxiway centreline lights change colour near the runway?
On an exit taxiway the centreline lights alternate green and yellow from the runway centreline out to the edge of the ILS critical or sensitive area (or the inner transitional surface, whichever is farthest). The yellow lights tell the pilot the aircraft is still inside the area that must be cleared.
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