Runway Approach Hold Area Signage and Marking Study

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of Airports (ARP) has proposed revising its standards for signage and markings for runway approach hold areas in accordance with recommendations from the FAA Approach Hold Workgroup. The effort aims to standardize approach hold guidance across lines of business. To implement the recommendations, a Safety Risk Management (SRM) panel was formed. The SRM panel participants discussed the lack of standardization for runway approach hold signs, markings and guidance, the proposed changes, and the hazards associated with each. Before the ARP Safety Risk Management Document (SRMD) was finalized, the new approach hold proposed changes were evaluated by the FAA Airport Technology Research and Development Branch at the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center. The results of these evaluations are described in this technical note.

Data on the proposed approach hold signage and markings changes were collected at the FAA Cockpit Simulation Facility, Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport (CLE), and Nashville International Airport (BNA). Based on the data collected during this research effort, it is projected that the adoption of the proposed approach hold signage and markings standards will have the predicted residual effects of reducing pilot confusion and air traffic control (ATC) workload. However, the results showed that there may be an increase in runway incursions and ATC workload temporarily as individuals adjust to the changes. 

This technical note was developed in support of the ARP SRMD. Additional in-depth study information can be found in the final report titled “Evaluation of Enhanced Visual Cues for Runway Approach and Runway Safety Areas,” DOT/FAA/TC-16/26.