Taxiways - Lost and Found
First, a taxiway is a communication path on an airport connecting runways with ramps, hangers, terminals and repair facilities. Larger airports the taxiways are hard surfaced to support heavy aircraft.
The Blue Lights mark Taxiway Edge lights and emit blue light. They make finding your way around easier. Jeppeson Charts have taxiways well marked for the pilots benefit.
Jet Ports have high-speed exits off the Main Runways to facilitate moving large planes. Once off they use the taxiways.
The center of the taxiways have a single yellow line to help you center your plane for taxiing.
The taxiway edge markings have two different purposes. If they have two solid yellow strips it marks an edge of the taxiway that separates the taxiway from a surface that doesn't, for instance, support a plane straying into that area.
The second is two broken double yellow strips that separate a surface that does support a plane crossing over onto it's surface but is not the actual taxiway.
Taxiways have Yellow Information Blocks as they approach a runway. The blocks contain black lettering and numbers that provide taxiway information when erected signs are not possible.
The lighting and informational choices expand as the complexity of the airport increases. Night increases the possibility of confusion.
If you fly into busy airports the following link is complete and will help you in the identification possibilities before you actually take off and, of course, is a part of your pre-planning. Airport Lighting Systems.
