Apron Markings Signs Handbook Jun 2026

Located just before the stop line. For example, "A320" painted in large white characters. The pilot aligns the nose wheel with the "A320" marking to ensure the jetbridge aligns with the fuselage door.

. For most, it was a dry collection of technical standards, but for a newly minted ground controller, it was the only map that made sense of the sprawling concrete chaos outside. Apron Markings Signs Handbook

| Marking | Shape | Meaning | |---------|-------|---------| | | Solid line + dashed lead-in | Stop here for a specific aircraft type (e.g., "B737-800"). | | Lead-in Line | Solid white arrow | Taxi path from taxiway to parking spot. | | Lead-out Line | Dashed white line | Taxi path from parking spot to taxiway. | | Centerline | Solid white | For straight taxiing on apron. | | Turning Guidance | Curved white arcs | Nosewheel steering path for sharp turns. | Located just before the stop line

For airport operators: Do not treat the handbook as a suggestion. Treat it as a living standard. Audit your markings quarterly, repaint aggressively, and train relentlessly. In the high-stakes theatre of the apron, ignorance is not bliss—it is a foreign object debris (FOD) waiting to happen. | | Lead-in Line | Solid white arrow

However, the handbook explicitly states: "Until AR is certified for all visibility conditions, physical markings remain the primary means of surface guidance."