AIM ¶ 2-1-10 — Taxiway Lights
AIM 2-1-10 explained: taxiway edge, centerline, clearance bar, runway guard, and stop bar lights — colors, meanings, and oral exam prep for pilots.
In Plain English
AIM 2-1-10 describes the five types of taxiway lighting you'll encounter at airports, especially in darkness or low visibility. Knowing each color and pattern is essential to avoid runway incursions.
- Taxiway Edge Lights — blue, outline taxiway edges. At major airports, intensity is adjustable on pilot request.
- Taxiway Centerline Lights — steady green, mark the centerline on straight and curved sections, including paths across runways and ramps. Used in low visibility ground operations.
- Clearance Bar Lights — three in-pavement steady yellow lights at holding positions; also mark intersecting taxiways at night.
- Runway Guard Lights — flashing yellow lights (elevated pair or in-pavement row) at every taxiway/runway intersection. They alert you that you are approaching an active runway.
- Stop Bar Lights — a row of red in-pavement lights plus elevated red lights at the holding position, used when RVR is below 1,200 ft. ATC turns them off and illuminates green lead-on lights to authorize crossing.
Critical rule: Never cross a red illuminated stop bar, even with an ATC clearance. If lead-on lights extinguish after you cross, hold position and contact ATC.
AIM Source Text
FAA AIM ¶ 2-1-102-1-10. 2-1-10. Taxiway Lights
Taxiway Edge Lights. Taxiway edge lights are used to outline the edges of taxiways during periods of darkness or restricted visibility conditions. These fixtures emit blue light. NOTE- At most major airports these lights have variable intensity settings and may be adjusted at pilot request or when deemed necessary by the controller. Taxiway Centerline Lights. Taxiway centerline lights are used to facilitate ground traffic under low visibility conditions. They are located along the taxiway centerline in a straight line on straight portions, on the centerline of curved portions, and along designated taxiing paths in portions of runways, ramp, and apron areas. Taxiway centerline lights are steady burning and emit green light. Clearance Bar Lights. Clearance bar lights are installed at holding positions on taxiways in order to increase the conspicuity of the holding position in low visibility conditions. They may also be installed to indicate the location of an intersecting taxiway during periods of darkness. Clearance bars consist of three in-pavement steady-burning yellow lights. Runway Guard Lights. Runway guard lights are installed at taxiway/runway intersections. They are primarily used to enhance the conspicuity of taxiway/runway intersections during low visibility conditions, but may be used in all weather conditions. Runway guard lights consist of either a pair of elevated flashing yellow lights installed on either side of the taxiway, or a row of in-pavement yellow lights installed across the entire taxiway, at the runway holding position marking. NOTE- Some airports may have a row of three or five in-pavement yellow lights installed at taxiway/runway intersections. They should not be confused with clearance bar lights described in paragraph 2-1-10 c , Clearance Bar Lights. Stop Bar Lights. Stop bar lights, when installed, are used to confirm the ATC clearance to enter or cross the active runway in low visibility conditions (below 1,200 ft Runway Visual Range). A stop bar consists of a row of red, unidirectional, steady-burning in-pavement lights installed across the entire taxiway at the runway holding position, and elevated steady-burning red lights on each side. A controlled stop bar is operated in conjunction with the taxiway centerline lead-on lights which extend from the stop bar toward the runway. Following the ATC clearance to proceed, the stop bar is turned off and the lead-on lights are turned on. The stop bar and lead-on lights are automatically reset by a sensor or backup timer. CAUTION- Pilots should never cross a red illuminated stop bar, even if an ATC clearance has been given to proceed onto or across the runway. NOTE- If after crossing a stop bar, the taxiway centerline lead-on lights inadvertently extinguish, pilots should hold their position and contact ATC for further instructions. Previous | Top | Next AIM | ATPUBS | FAA | Send your comments regarding this website.
Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1What color are taxiway edge lights and taxiway centerline lights, and when are they used?
Per AIM 2-1-10, taxiway edge lights are blue and outline taxiway edges during darkness or restricted visibility. Taxiway centerline lights are steady green and are used to facilitate ground traffic in low visibility conditions, including across runways, ramps, and apron areas.
Q2What are runway guard lights, and how do they differ from clearance bar lights?
Per AIM 2-1-10, runway guard lights are flashing yellow lights (either elevated pairs on each side of the taxiway or an in-pavement row) installed at taxiway/runway intersections to enhance conspicuity. Clearance bar lights are three in-pavement steady-burning yellow lights at holding positions or to mark intersecting taxiways at night — they are steady, not flashing.
Q3May you cross a red illuminated stop bar if ATC clears you to proceed?
No. Per AIM 2-1-10, pilots should never cross a red illuminated stop bar, even if an ATC clearance has been given. The stop bar must be turned off and the green lead-on lights illuminated before crossing. If lead-on lights extinguish after crossing, hold position and contact ATC.
Related Paragraphs in AIM Chapter 2