Where are you?

Nov 1, 2026

You're approaching a set of airport markings. Where are you?

AOn a taxiway, approaching a runway

That's what you'd see if the two solid lines were closest to you. The dashed side is always the runway side. Option B is the answer ๐Ÿ›‘

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BOn a runway, approaching a taxiway

You got it ๐Ÿ‘

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COn the ramp, entering a taxiway

The edge of the ramp (the non-movement area boundary) is one solid and one dashed yellow line. Four lines, two solid and two dashed, is a runway holding position marking. Option B ๐Ÿšฆ

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DApproaching an ILS critical area

The ILS critical area hold looks like a yellow ladder, two solid lines joined by short crossbars. Four lines, two solid and two dashed, is a runway holding position marking. Option B is the answer ๐Ÿ›ฉ๏ธ

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Pick an answer. You can try as many as you like.

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The explanation

B. On a runway, approaching a taxiway

Reading the hold short line

The markings in the video are runway holding position markings, the hold short line. They're four yellow lines across the pavement, two solid and two dashed (AIM 2-3-5). The solid lines are always on the side where the aircraft must hold. The dashed lines are always on the runway side.

In the video, the dashed lines are closest to you. That puts you on the runway side of the marking, so you're on a runway, approaching a taxiway.

But the centerline is yellow

Taxiway centerlines are yellow, and so are the lead-off lines that take you off a runway onto an exit taxiway. A yellow line under the nose doesn't tell you which side of the hold short line you're on. An aircraft exiting a runway isn't clear of the runway until every part of the airplane has crossed the holding position marking (AIM 2-3-5). Until then, you're still on the runway.

Markings that look similar

Non-movement area boundary -- The edge of the ramp, where ATC's movement area begins. It's one solid and one dashed yellow line, with the solid line on the non-movement area side (AIM 2-3-6).

ILS critical area holding position -- Two solid yellow lines joined by short crossbars, so it looks like a yellow ladder across the taxiway (AIM 2-3-5).

Four lines, two solid and two dashed, is a runway holding position marking.

References

  • AIM Chapter 2, Section 3
    Airport Marking Aids and Signs. See 2-3-5, Holding Position Markings, and 2-3-6, Other Markings.
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