AIM
8/15/19
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12
Airport Marking Aids and Signs
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5. Holding Position Markings
a. Runway Holding Position Markings.
For
runways, these markings indicate where aircraft
MUST STOP when approaching a runway. They
consist of four yellow lines, two solid and two dashed,
spaced six or twelve inches apart, and extending
across the width of the taxiway or runway. The solid
lines are always on the side where the aircraft must
hold. There are three locations where runway holding
position markings are encountered.
1. Runway Holding Position Markings on
Taxiways.
These markings identify the locations on
a taxiway where aircraft MUST STOP when a
clearance has not been issued to proceed onto the
runway. Generally, runway holding position mark-
ings also identify the boundary of the runway safety
area (RSA) for aircraft exiting the runway. Runway
holding position markings are shown in FIG 2
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3
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13
and FIG 2
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16. When instructed by ATC, “
Hold
short of Runway XX
,” the pilot MUST STOP so that
no part of the aircraft extends beyond the runway
holding position marking. When approaching
runways at airports with an operating control tower,
pilots must not cross the runway holding position
marking without ATC clearance. Pilots approaching
runways at airports without an operating control
tower must ensure adequate separation from other
aircraft, vehicles, and pedestrians prior to crossing
the holding position markings. An aircraft exiting a
runway is not clear of the runway until all parts of the
aircraft have crossed the applicable holding position
marking.
NOTE
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Runway holding position markings identify the beginning
of an RSA, and a pilot MUST STOP to get clearance before
crossing (at airports with operating control towers).
REFERENCE
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AIM, Paragraph 4
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3
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20 , Exiting the Runway After Landing
2. Runway Holding Position Markings on
Runways.
These markings identify the locations on
runways where aircraft MUST STOP. These
markings are located on runways used by ATC for
Land And Hold Short Operations (for example, see
FIG 4
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3
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8) and Taxiing operations. For taxiing
operations, the pilot MUST STOP prior to the holding
position markings unless explicitly authorized to
cross by ATC. A sign with a white inscription on a red
background is located adjacent to these holding
position markings. (See FIG 2
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14.) The holding
position markings are placed on runways prior to the
intersection with another runway, or some designated
point. Pilots receiving and accepting instructions
“
Cleared to land Runway XX, hold short of Runway
YY
” from ATC must either exit Runway XX prior to
the holding position markings, or stop at the holding
position markings prior to Runway YY. Otherwise,
pilots are authorized to use the entire landing length
of the runway and disregard the holding position
markings.
3. Holding Position Markings on Taxiways
Located in Runway Approach Areas.
These
markings are used at some airports where it is
necessary to hold an aircraft on a taxiway located in
the approach or departure area of a runway so that the
aircraft does not interfere with the operations on that
runway. This marking is collocated with the runway
approach/departure area holding position sign. When
specifically instructed by ATC, “
Hold short of
Runway XX approach or Runway XX departure
area,
” the pilot MUST STOP so that no part of the
aircraft extends beyond the holding position marking.
(See Subparagraph 2
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8b2, Runway Approach
Area Holding Position Sign, and FIG 2
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3
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15.)
b. Holding Position Markings for Instrument
Landing System (ILS).
Holding position markings
for ILS critical areas consist of two yellow solid lines
spaced two feet apart connected by pairs of solid lines
spaced ten feet apart extending across the width of the
taxiway as shown. (See FIG 2
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3
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16.) A sign with an
inscription in white on a red background is located
adjacent to these hold position markings. When
instructed by ATC to hold short of the ILS critical
area, pilots MUST STOP so that no part of the aircraft
extends beyond the holding position marking. When
approaching the holding position marking, pilots
must not cross the marking without ATC clearance.
The ILS critical area is not clear until all parts of the
aircraft have crossed the applicable holding position
marking.
REFERENCE
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AIM, Paragraph 1
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1
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9 , Instrument Landing System (ILS)
c. Holding Position Markings for Intersecting
Taxiways
Holding position markings for intersect-
ing taxiways consist of a single dashed line extending
across the width of the taxiway as shown. (See
FIG 2
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3
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17.) They are located on taxiways where
ATC holds aircraft short of a taxiway intersection.
When instructed by ATC, “
Hold short of Taxiway
XX,
” the pilot MUST STOP so that no part of the
aircraft extends beyond the holding position marking.
When the marking is not present, the pilot MUST