Where are we on the airport?

At a taxiway intersection, the signs are usually grouped into an array. Each type of sign has its own colors, and the colors tell you what the sign means before you read it.

Location signs

A location sign identifies the taxiway or runway the aircraft is on. A taxiway location sign has a black background with yellow writing and a yellow border. In the reel, the black sign in the middle of the array reads G, so we're on taxiway Golf. Think "black square, you're there."

Direction signs

Direction signs have a yellow background with black writing. In the reel, each names a taxiway leaving the intersection, with an arrow showing which way to go. The direction signs on either side of the G (G7, A, A4 and A) are turns you can take from here.

Runway holding position signs

A red sign with a white inscription is a mandatory instruction sign. In the reel, it's the runway holding position sign for runway 19. The runway is still ahead of you to your left. At a towered airport, you never cross it without an ATC clearance.

Runup areas

A runup area is a paved pad off the side of the taxiway, usually near the runway end. Runup areas generally have no signage, so you find them on the airport diagram. If a runway has no designated runup area, you taxi up to the hold short line and perform your runup there.