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PA.III.A.K1 FAA · Private Pilot

Airport operations — markings, signs, lighting, runway incursion

Node 6 of 16 in PA

Objectives

  • Identify the key rules and §§ that apply to airport operations — markings, signs, lighting, runway incursion.
  • Apply the PA.III.A.K1 knowledge element in a typical exam scenario.
  • Recognize common distractors and partial-credit answers.

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PA.III.A.K1 · PA.III.A.K2

Airport operations — markings, signs, lighting, runway incursion

Area III — Airport Operations Task A — Communications, Light Signals, Runway Lighting

**Runway markings** are white: runway designator (numbered per magnetic bearing /10), centerline, threshold, aiming point, and touchdown zone. **Taxiway markings** are yellow: centerline, edge, and holding-position markings (four yellow lines: two solid, two dashed — dashed side may be crossed).

**Airport signs:** Mandatory instruction signs are red with white inscription (e.g., '15-33' at a runway holding position). Location signs are black with yellow inscription. Direction signs are yellow with black inscription.

**Light signals (AIM 4-3-13)** when radio-out: steady green — cleared to land/takeoff; flashing green — cleared to taxi/return for landing; steady red — stop/give way; flashing red — taxi clear of runway/airport unsafe; flashing white — return to starting point on airport; alternating red-green — exercise extreme caution.

**Runway incursion prevention (AC 91-73B):** always read back hold-short instructions, confirm aircraft location on a taxi diagram, never cross a runway holding-position marking without an explicit clearance, and make position reports at non-towered fields on CTAF 10 miles out, entering downwind, base, final, and clear of the runway.

AIM 2-3 (Airport Marking Aids) AIM 4-3-13 (Traffic Control Light Signals) AC 91-73B

Check yourself

3 quick questions — no score kept, just formative feedback.

  1. Q1 · PA.III.A.K1

    The standard traffic pattern turns at non-towered airports are:

    Answer choices
  2. Q2 · PA.III.B.K1

    An airport's segmented circle with an L-shaped wind tee pointing northeast indicates:

    Answer choices
  3. Q3 · PA.III.C.K1

    Tower light-gun signal of alternating red and green on the ground means:

    Answer choices

Tutor

Scoped to PA.III.A.K1 · PA.III.A.K2 .

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