Certified Flight Instructor - Flight Instructor Airplane Practice Exam

What is the purpose of runway hold position markings on the taxiway?

1. Identifies area where aircraft are prohibited

2. Allows an aircraft permission onto the runway

3. Holds aircraft short of the runway

4. Designates emergency landing areas

The correct answer is: Holds aircraft short of the runway

Runway hold position markings are essential in maintaining safe operations on the airport surface, specifically at taxiway and runway intersections. The primary purpose of these markings is to indicate the precise point where an aircraft must stop and hold short of the runway, ensuring that it does not enter the runway until it has received explicit clearance from Air Traffic Control (ATC). This helps to prevent runway incursions, which can lead to dangerous situations involving overlapping movements of aircraft. While the other options represent important aspects of airport operations, they do not accurately describe the function of runway hold position markings. For instance, they do not designate prohibited areas or emergency landing zones, nor do they directly provide permission for aircraft to enter the runway. Instead, they serve as a critical visual cue for pilots to maintain a safe distance from active runways until they receive proper clearance.