Aerodromes & lighting

010 Air LawChapter 5

Runway designation

Key fact

Runway number = magnetic heading ÷ 10, rounded to nearest 10°. Example: 087° → RWY 09. Parallel runways — L/C/R (left, centre, right).

Key fact

Displaced threshold — landing area begins after threshold marking; portion before may be used for take-off run only.

Runway lighting (colours)

Light	Colour	Purpose
Edge	White (yellow last 600 m)	Runway edges
Threshold	Green	Threshold
End	Red	Runway end
Centreline	White (red last 300 m)	Centreline
Touchdown zone	White	TDZ
Approach	White (barrette)	Precision approach
VASIS/PAPI	Red/white	Glide path
Stopway	Red	Stopway
Taxiway centreline	Green	Taxi
Taxiway edge	Blue	Taxi edge
Obstacle	Red	Obstacles

Key fact

PAPI — 4 lights. 2 red + 2 white = on glide path. 3 red = too low. 1 red = well below. 3 white = too high.

Signs

Sign	Background	Text
Location	Black	Yellow
Direction	Yellow	Black
Mandatory instruction	Red	White
Information	Yellow	Black
Runway holding	Red	White (inscribed)

Key fact

ILS critical area — do not enter when low visibility or as instructed by ATC. Stop bar — red = do not proceed; clearance required even if green at runway edge.

SNOWTAM

Key fact

SNOWTAM — runway surface condition report. Valid 24 hours; new one issued if conditions change. Reports contamination (snow, slush, ice), depth, coverage percentage, and braking action.

Key fact

Braking action scale: Good → Medium → Poor → Nil. Medium or below — performance calculations required.

Aerodrome reference codes

Code	Wingspan	Outer main gear span
A	under 15 m	under 4.5 m
B	15–24 m	4.5–6 m
C	24–36 m	6–9 m
D	36–52 m	9–14 m
E	52–65 m	9–14 m
F	65–80 m	14–16 m