What is a rapid exit taxiway?
A taxiway that leaves the runway at a shallow angle, so a landing aircraft can turn off at speed and clear the runway sooner.
A rapid exit taxiway, or high-speed turn-off, joins the runway at an acute angle instead of a right angle. A landing aircraft can turn off while still moving at speed rather than slowing almost to a stop first, which shortens runway occupancy time and frees the runway for the next movement.
ICAO recommends an exit angle of 25° to 45°, with 30° preferred. The taxiway centreline leaves the runway in a large-radius curve, then runs straight long enough for the aircraft to stop clear of any taxiway ahead before it joins the parallel taxiway. Green centreline lights begin at least 60 m before the curve and continue beyond it to where an aircraft can be expected to reach normal taxiing speed. From the runway out to the edge of the ILS critical/sensitive area or the inner transitional surface, whichever is farther from the runway, they alternate green and yellow, with the light nearest that limit yellow; beyond it they are all green. Blue edge lights outline the pavement once it clears the runway.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1What is a rapid exit taxiway?
A taxiway that joins the runway at a shallow angle and curves away with a large radius, so a landing aircraft can turn off at higher speed and clear the runway sooner. It is also called a high-speed turn-off.
Q2What angle does a rapid exit taxiway make with the runway?
ICAO recommends an angle between 25 and 45 degrees, with 30 degrees preferred. A shallower angle lets the aircraft keep more speed through the turn, while a steeper one is closer to an ordinary exit.
Q3Why build a rapid exit taxiway?
It shortens runway occupancy time. The aircraft does not have to slow almost to a stop before turning, so the runway is free sooner for the next landing or take-off and the airport can handle more movements per hour.
Q4How is a rapid exit taxiway lit?
Blue edge lights outline the pavement and green centreline lights guide the aircraft along the curve, starting at least 60 m before it. Close to the runway, out to the edge of the ILS critical/sensitive area or the inner transitional surface, the centreline lights alternate green and yellow, and beyond that they are all green. Yellow RETIL lights on the runway give distance-to-go to the exit. See the Rapid-Exit Taxiway Lighting entry for the detail.
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