Airfield Guidance Signs
Airfield guidance signs, illuminated mandatory instruction, location, and direction signs placed along runways and taxiways, tell a pilot where they are and what boundary or intersection lies ahead, backing up ground lighting and radio instructions with a fixed visual reference. Northlane Solutions supplies illuminated airfield signage engineered to ICAO Annex 14 Volume I sizing and legend requirements across Saudi Arabia.
Inside the Airfield Guidance Signs
An illuminated airfield guidance sign pairs a fixed legend panel with an internal light source, mounted on a frangible base engineered to break away cleanly if struck. Each part works to keep the sign legible from the cockpit at night while posing no risk to an aircraft that leaves its intended path.
01
Legend Panel
The face of the sign, carrying the mandatory instruction, location or direction legend in the colour combination ICAO Annex 14 Volume I assigns to that sign category; its size and letter height scale to the aerodrome reference code so the message reads at taxi speed.
02
LED Illumination Module
Backlights the legend panel from within the housing so the sign stays readable at night and in low visibility, drawing far less power and lasting longer in service than the fluorescent modules it replaces.
03
Weatherproof Housing
Encloses the panel and illumination module in a sealed case that keeps blowing sand and dust off the internal electronics and diffuser, the main failure point for airfield signage in desert conditions.
04
Frangible Mounting Base
Couples the sign to its foundation through a low-mass fitting designed to shear or collapse on impact, so an aircraft that strays off the taxiway meets no rigid obstruction.
05
Support Post
Holds the panel at the fixed height and orientation the sign schedule specifies, routing the power cable up from the foundation to the illumination module.
FULLY ASSEMBLED
Airfield Guidance Signs
| Sign Category | Mandatory instruction, location, or direction per ICAO Annex 14 Volume I |
| Sizing Basis | Panel size and legend height scaled to aerodrome reference code |
| Illumination | Internally LED-backlit or externally floodlit |
| Mounting | Frangible base for low-mass, break-away coupling |
| Housing Rating | Sealed against dust and sand ingress |
| Placement Basis | Set against the approved airfield layout plan |
| Power Supply | Fed from the airfield lighting series or constant current circuit serving the taxiway |
What airfield guidance signs do
Airfield guidance signs are the illuminated panels placed beside taxiways and at runway-taxiway intersections that tell a pilot, unambiguously and at a glance, where they are on the airfield and what lies immediately ahead. They fall into three broad categories: mandatory instruction signs, red background with white legend, marking a point a pilot must not cross without clearance, such as a runway-holding position; location signs, yellow background with black legend, confirming which taxiway or runway the aircraft is currently on; and direction signs, black background with yellow legend, indicating the taxiway route to follow at an upcoming intersection.
Standards and legend requirements
ICAO Annex 14 Volume I sets the sign sizing, legend height, colour combination, and illumination requirement for each sign category, scaled to the aerodrome reference code so a sign is legible at the taxi speed and eye height typical of the aircraft the airfield is designed to serve. GACAR Part 139 applies the same reference at licensed Saudi aerodromes. Sign placement and legend content follow the specific taxiway and runway layout of each airfield rather than a generic catalogue selection, so sign scheduling is normally done against the approved airfield layout plan.
Illumination and power
Most mandatory instruction and many location and direction signs are internally illuminated, either LED-backlit or externally floodlit, so the legend stays legible at night and in low visibility on the same basis as the runway and taxiway lighting around them. Northlane Solutions sources LED-illuminated sign panels for lower power draw and longer service life than fluorescent-backlit legacy signs, with housings sealed against dust and sand ingress for sustained legibility in Saudi outdoor conditions.
Turnkey delivery
Northlane Solutions supplies and installs airfield guidance signage as part of the airfield ground lighting scope: sign schedule preparation against the approved layout plan, panel supply with correct legend and sizing per aerodrome reference code, foundation and mounting installation, electrical connection where illuminated, and commissioning. Signage is sourced from established international aviation lighting manufacturers, quoted in USD and SAR.
What to send for a quote
Send the airfield layout plan showing taxiway and runway-holding position locations, the aerodrome reference code, and any existing sign schedule from the airfield design. Northlane Solutions returns a sign schedule and product recommendation with lead time and pricing, coordinated with the rest of the airfield ground lighting installation programme.
Specifications
- ✓Mandatory instruction (red/white), location (yellow/black), and direction (black/yellow) sign categories per ICAO Annex 14 Volume I
- ✓Sign sizing and legend height scaled to the aerodrome reference code for legibility at taxi speed and eye height
- ✓LED-backlit or externally floodlit illumination for night and low-visibility legibility
- ✓Sign schedule and placement developed against the approved airfield layout plan, not a generic selection
- ✓Dust and sand-sealed housings for sustained legibility in Saudi outdoor conditions
- ✓Turnkey supply, foundation and mounting installation, electrical connection, and commissioning
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the different types of airfield guidance signs?+
Mandatory instruction signs (red background, white legend) mark a point a pilot must not cross without clearance. Location signs (yellow background, black legend) confirm the current taxiway or runway. Direction signs (black background, yellow legend) show the route to follow at an upcoming intersection.
Why are airfield signs illuminated instead of just reflective?+
Illumination keeps the legend readable at the taxi speed and viewing distance a pilot needs at night or in low visibility, on the same operational basis as the runway and taxiway lighting around the sign, which a reflective-only panel cannot match once ambient light drops.
Who supplies illuminated airfield signage in Saudi Arabia?+
Northlane Solutions sources and supplies mandatory instruction, location, and direction signage built to ICAO Annex 14 sizing and legend requirements, as turnkey supply and installation for airfield and heliport projects across the Kingdom.
What is the role of the Legend Panel in Airfield Guidance Signs?+
The face of the sign, carrying the mandatory instruction, location or direction legend in the colour combination ICAO Annex 14 Volume I assigns to that sign category; its size and letter height scale to the aerodrome reference code so the message reads at taxi speed.
What is the role of the LED Illumination Module in Airfield Guidance Signs?+
Backlights the legend panel from within the housing so the sign stays readable at night and in low visibility, drawing far less power and lasting longer in service than the fluorescent modules it replaces.
What is the role of the Weatherproof Housing in Airfield Guidance Signs?+
Encloses the panel and illumination module in a sealed case that keeps blowing sand and dust off the internal electronics and diffuser, the main failure point for airfield signage in desert conditions.
What is the role of the Frangible Mounting Base in Airfield Guidance Signs?+
Couples the sign to its foundation through a low-mass fitting designed to shear or collapse on impact, so an aircraft that strays off the taxiway meets no rigid obstruction.
What is the role of the Support Post in Airfield Guidance Signs?+
Holds the panel at the fixed height and orientation the sign schedule specifies, routing the power cable up from the foundation to the illumination module.