Taxiway
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A taxiway is a strip of land on an airport on which aircraft can roll (taxi) to or from a hangar, terminal, runway, or other facility. They are often a hard surface such as asphalt or concrete, although smaller airports sometimes use gravel or grass.
Busy airports typically construct high-speed or rapid-exit taxiways in order to allow aircraft to leave the runway at higher speeds. This allows the aircraft to vacate the runway quicker, permitting another to land in a shorter space of time.
Generally taxiways are marked with yellow lines. A continuous yellow line marks the centerline of the taxiway. Taxiway edges are marked with double parallel yellow lines.
The taxiways are given alphanumeric identification. These taxiway IDs are shown on black and yellow signboards along the taxiways.
For night operations, taxiways are usually edged with blue lights, to distinguish them from the white lights of a runway. Larger airports sometimes add additional green centerline lighting.
The centerline lighting is embedded in the taxiway, and an aircraft landing gear can thus roll over the lights.
Taxiway lights are spaced 75 feet apart from each other. In some airports, the lights are closer at the intersections.
