What are runway-exit signs?
Yellow background, black inscription, the exit taxiway designator and an arrow — the sign beside the runway that tells a landing pilot which turn-off is coming and which way it goes.
A runway-exit sign is an information sign with a yellow background and black inscription — the same colours as the direction sign in Entry 3. Its inscription is short: the designator of the exit taxiway and an arrow showing the direction to follow. It is provided where there is an operational need to identify a runway exit, so a pilot who is still decelerating after touchdown can tell which exit is next and which way it turns before committing to the turn.
It stands on the same side of the runway as the exit, before the exit point. Annex 14 sets the distance from the point of tangent: at least 60 m before it where the runway code number is 3 or 4, and at least 30 m where it is 1 or 2. It is read before the turn-off — the runway vacated sign is the one read after it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1What is a runway-exit sign?
An information sign with a yellow background and black inscription, showing the designator of an exit taxiway and an arrow for the direction to follow, placed beside the runway where there is an operational need to identify an exit.
Q2How is a runway-exit sign different from a direction sign?
They share the same yellow/black colours, but a direction sign sits at a taxiway intersection and lists routes to choose from, while a runway-exit sign sits beside the runway, ahead of one exit, and names that exit for an aircraft that has just landed.
Q3Where is a runway-exit sign placed?
On the same side of the runway as the exit, before the exit point. Annex 14 puts it at least 60 m before the point of tangent for code number 3 or 4 runways, and at least 30 m before it for code number 1 or 2.
Q4Is a runway-exit sign the same as a runway vacated sign?
No. The exit sign is read before the turn-off and names the exit. A runway vacated sign is read after it, marking the point at which the aircraft is clear of the runway (the ILS/MLS critical/sensitive area perimeter or the inner transitional surface edge, whichever is farther from the centreline), and is provided where the exit taxiway has no centreline lights.
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