AIM ¶ 2-3-2 — Airport Pavement Markings
AIM 2-3-2 explains airport pavement marking categories and color conventions—white for runways, yellow for taxiways and holding positions. Study for checkride.
AIM 2-3-2 introduces airport pavement markings, which the FAA groups into four categories:
- Runway markings
- Taxiway markings
- Holding position markings
- Other markings
Understanding the color convention is the foundation for safe ground operations and runway incursion avoidance:
- White is used for runway markings and for the landing area on a heliport (with the exception of hospital heliports, which display a red "H" on a white cross).
- Yellow is used for taxiway markings, areas not intended for aircraft use (such as closed or hazardous areas), and holding position markings—even when those holding position markings are painted on a runway surface.
Operationally, this means that when you see white paint, you're operating in the runway environment; yellow paint indicates taxi routes or boundaries you must respect. A holding position marking remains yellow even if it sits on a runway (such as for a Land and Hold Short operation or runway/runway intersection), giving pilots a consistent visual cue to stop and verify clearance before crossing.