Airport operations is everything you do between the ramp and the runway, and in the traffic pattern around it: reading the signs, markings and lights, following ATC instructions or announcing yourself at a non-towered field, and never entering a runway until it is legal and safe. The FAA color-codes the signs, markings and lights, so once you know the colors, an unfamiliar airport starts to make sense.
Part of our Learn to Fly library, with five in-depth guides linked below.
The airport color code
All of these come from chapter 2 of the FAA’s Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM).
| What you see | Color | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Runway markings | White | The runway itself: numbers, centerline, threshold |
| Taxiway markings, holding positions, closed areas | Yellow | Taxi guidance, places to stop, pavement not for aircraft |
| Mandatory instruction signs | White on red | Runway, critical area or no-entry area ahead |
| Location signs | Yellow on black | The taxiway or runway you are on |
| Direction, destination and information signs | Black on yellow | Where to go and local information |
| Runway edge lights | White, yellow near the end of instrument runways | Runway edges at night or in low visibility |
| Taxiway lights | Blue edges, green centerline | Taxiway edges and taxi path |
Runway and taxiway markings
White runway markings show the runway number, centerline, threshold, aiming point and, on precision runways, touchdown zone bars every 500 feet. Yellow taxiway markings include the centerline, edge lines (solid double lines where the pavement beyond is not for aircraft, dashed double lines where it is usable, such as an apron) and the hold lines where you stop. Our runway markings guide explains each one.
Airport signs
The AIM defines six sign types: mandatory instruction, location, direction, destination, information and runway distance remaining. The red runway holding position sign matters most. Learn the colors and how to read a direction sign array in our airport signs guide.
Airport lighting
An airport beacon flashing white and green marks a lighted land airport, and a military airport adds two quick white flashes between the green ones. In a Class B, C, D or E surface area, a beacon on in daylight often means visibility below 3 miles or a ceiling below 1,000 feet, though the AIM says not to rely solely on it. At some airports, often when no tower is open, you turn the runway lights on yourself by keying the microphone on the frequency listed in the Chart Supplement; seven clicks within five seconds gives the highest intensity. See airport lighting for the full system.
PAPI and VASI lights
Visual glidepath indicators show whether you are high or low on final approach. A PAPI is a row of two or four lights, normally on the left side of the runway; on a four-light PAPI, two white and two red means you are on the glidepath. On a two-bar VASI, red over white means on glidepath. They are covered in PAPI and VASI lights, and they pair with the stabilized approach in how to land an airplane.
Light gun signals
If your radio fails at a towered airport, the tower can still clear you with a light gun. Under 14 CFR 91.125, a steady green means cleared to land in the air or cleared for takeoff on the ground, and a flashing red means the airport is unsafe for landing or, on the ground, taxi clear of the runway in use. Learn the full table in light gun signals.
Avoiding runway incursions
The FAA defines a runway incursion as any occurrence at an airport involving the incorrect presence of an aircraft, vehicle or person on the protected area of a surface designated for landing and takeoff. Its Runway Safety office notes that over 80 percent of pilot-caused incursions happen during taxi to the departure runway. The basics:
- Plan the taxi. Review the airport diagram, NOTAMs and any hot spots, which are locations with a history or potential risk of collision or runway incursion.
- Read back. ATC must get a readback of every runway hold-short instruction, and the AIM says to read back your runway assignment, any clearance to enter a runway and any instruction to hold short or line up and wait. See towered airport communications.
- Cross only when cleared. At a towered airport you need an explicit clearance to cross any runway, and taxi instructions to your departure runway do not authorize you to enter or cross it.
- Look both ways when there is no tower. Announce your intentions on the CTAF before taxiing onto the runway, and check for traffic on final first; see non-towered airport communications.
- Clear the runway fully. After landing you are clear only when every part of the airplane has crossed the hold line, and at a towered airport you then hold unless ATC has told you otherwise.
- Ask. If unsure, stop and ask ATC, or request progressive taxi.
On the ramp
Line crews on the ramp may guide you with hand signals, and our classic article on following ramp hand signals covers the common ones.
On the checkride
The Private Pilot ACS tests this directly: taxiing knowledge includes airport markings, signs and lights and runway incursion avoidance, and you must recognize ATC light signals and identify markings, signs and lighting in the traffic pattern. Our checkride guide shows how it fits into the flight test.
What you'll need
The Chart Supplement with your region's airport diagrams, frequencies and runway data, plus the FAR/AIM and PHAK behind every sign, marking and light, all from PilotMall.com.
Frequently asked questions
What does airport operations cover for a student pilot?
It covers taxiing and the traffic pattern: reading signs, markings and lights, talking to ATC or self-announcing on the CTAF, light gun signals and avoiding runway incursions.
What do the colors of airport signs and markings mean?
Runway markings are white and taxiway markings are yellow. Red signs mark a runway, critical area or no-entry area ahead, black signs show where you are, and yellow signs show where to go.
Do I have to read back a hold short instruction?
Yes. ATC is required to obtain a readback of every runway hold-short instruction, so read back the runway and the hold-short with your call sign.
What is a hot spot on an airport diagram?
A hot spot is a location on an airport movement area with a history or potential risk of collision or runway incursion, where pilots need extra attention. Hot spots are shown on airport diagrams and described in the Chart Supplement.
What happens if my radio fails at a towered airport?
Watch the tower for light gun signals: steady green means cleared to land in flight or cleared for takeoff on the ground, and steady red means give way and keep circling in flight or stop on the ground. Acknowledge by moving the ailerons or rudder in daylight or blinking your lights at night.