What do taxiway markings mean in Microsoft Flight Simulator?
Learn MSFS taxiway markings: centre, edge and hold-short lines, intermediate holding positions, runway thresholds and common scenery errors.
In Microsoft Flight Simulator, taxiway markings are mainly yellow: a single solid line marks the taxiway centreline, double lines mark taxiway edges, and transverse lines mark holding positions. Runway markings are mainly white. Stop before solid hold-short lines unless cleared, and never treat a taxi ribbon or painted centreline as permission to enter a runway.
Taxiway markings and their meanings
Most airports represented in Microsoft Flight Simulator use the same basic visual language as their real counterparts. Exact details vary between ICAO, FAA and local standards, so signs, airport diagrams and ATC instructions must be considered alongside the paint.
| Marking | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Single continuous yellow line | Taxiway centreline, apron taxilane or stand lead-in line | Keep the nose wheel close to it, but confirm that it belongs to your assigned or planned route. |
| Centreline flanked by short yellow dashes | Enhanced taxiway centreline warning that a runway holding position is ahead | Reduce speed and look for the four-line runway holding-position marking. |
| Two continuous yellow lines | Taxiway edge beside a shoulder or pavement not intended for normal aircraft movement | Keep the aircraft inside the boundary. |
| Two broken yellow lines | At many FAA-style airports, a taxiway edge adjoining pavement that aircraft may use, such as an apron | Cross only where the planned route and available clearance make it appropriate. |
| Two solid and two broken yellow lines across the route | Runway holding-position or hold-short marking | Approaching from the solid-line side, keep the whole aircraft behind the marking unless cleared to enter or cross. |
| Single broken yellow line across the route | Intermediate holding position, commonly at a taxiway/taxiway intersection | Stop when instructed or when required by local procedures. It is not itself a runway boundary. |
| Ladder-style yellow marking | ILS or precision-approach critical-area holding position | Hold when instructed, particularly during instrument or low-visibility operations. |
| One solid and one broken yellow line | At many US airports, the boundary between non-movement and movement areas | Obtain any required ground authorisation before entering the movement area. |
| Black panel with yellow characters | Surface-painted location marking identifying the taxiway you are on | Use it to confirm your position. |
| Yellow panel with black characters or arrows | Surface-painted direction or destination information | Use it to identify upcoming taxiways, but follow it only when it agrees with your route. |
| Red panel with white characters | Surface-painted mandatory instruction, usually associated with a runway or protected area | Do not pass the corresponding holding point without the required clearance. |
| Yellow X | Closed taxiway or closed taxiway section | Do not enter, even if the pavement remains visible in the scenery. |
| Yellow chevrons near a runway end | Blast pad or stopway unavailable for normal taxiing, take-off or landing | Remain outside the chevroned area. |
Reading a taxiway edge marking
A taxiway edge marking runs along the side of the route rather than across it. Paired solid yellow lines normally separate the taxiway from a shoulder or unusable pavement; paired broken lines may separate it from adjoining pavement that aircraft can use.
Do not confuse a broken edge marking with an intermediate holding position. The edge marking follows the side of the taxiway as a pair, while an intermediate holding line is a single dashed line extending across your path.
Are runway and taxiway pavement markings different?
Runways have specific pavement markings that are mainly white, while taxiway pavement markings are mainly yellow. Runway centrelines, designation numbers, aiming points, touchdown-zone markings, edge lines and normal threshold markings are therefore white.
What does an MSFS runway threshold look like?
An MSFS runway threshold is normally identified by white longitudinal stripes, often called piano keys, with the runway designation farther along the runway. A displaced threshold has white arrows leading towards an arrowhead and threshold bar; landing in that direction begins at the displaced threshold rather than at the physical pavement end.
Pavement before a displaced threshold may be available for taxiing, take-off or landing rollout from the opposite direction, depending on the airport. Yellow chevrons are different: they identify a blast pad or stopway that is unavailable for normal aircraft movement. Our guide to runway thresholds, numbers and white pavement markings covers those runway-specific symbols in detail.
What does an intermediate holding position marking mean?
An intermediate holding position marking tells an aircraft where to stop when traffic must be controlled away from a runway, usually at a taxiway/taxiway intersection. It is commonly a single broken yellow line laid across the taxiway.
If ATC says to hold short of another taxiway, stop before this line and wait for the next instruction. Unlike the four-line runway holding marking, it does not by itself mean that a runway lies beyond it. Where red in-pavement stop-bar lights are illuminated, do not cross until they are extinguished and the applicable clearance has been received.
What is the ladder-style holding marking?
The ladder-style marking protects an ILS or other precision-approach critical area. An aircraft stopped too close to an ILS aerial can interfere with the guidance signal received by an approaching aircraft, even though the holding point may appear some distance from the runway.
MSFS scenery and built-in ATC do not always model this protection consistently. The marking retains its real meaning even when crossing it produces no visible simulator consequence.
Which side of a runway hold-short line do I stop on?
When approaching a runway, stop on the side with the two solid yellow lines and keep the entire aircraft behind the first line. Do not allow the nose, wingtip, tail or propeller arc to project into the protected area.
When leaving a runway, you encounter the two broken lines first. Continue across all four lines until every part of the aircraft is beyond them; passing the cockpit or nose wheel alone does not make the aircraft clear of the runway.
At a controlled airport, entering or crossing the runway requires the relevant clearance. At an uncontrolled aerodrome there may be no controller, but the marking still identifies where to stop, check the runway and assess traffic before proceeding under the applicable local procedure.
What does a taxiway sign or painted panel mean?
Use the background colour first when identifying an unfamiliar taxiway sign or surface-painted panel. Red with white characters is mandatory, black with yellow characters identifies your present location, and yellow with black characters or arrows gives direction or destination information.
Painted lines and upright signs work as one system: the line shows where to stop or steer, while the sign identifies the runway, taxiway or restriction involved. Our colour-coded explanation of airport signs and painted panels shows how to decode the letters, numbers and arrows.
How should I follow taxiway markings in Microsoft Flight Simulator?
Use the yellow centreline to maintain position after establishing the correct route; do not follow the first yellow line that appears in front of the aircraft.
- Read the complete route: Note every taxiway designator, runway crossing and hold-short instruction given by ATC. If the route is unfamiliar, use our method for combining airport diagrams, signs, ATC and the simulator map.
- Confirm your starting position: Check a nearby location sign, painted panel, stand number or terminal position before moving. Starting on the wrong apron can make an otherwise correct route impossible to follow.
- Trace one segment at a time: At each intersection, match the next taxiway letter to the sign and turn onto the corresponding centreline. Apron stand lines can look similar but usually terminate at a gate or parking position.
- Control speed before turns: Look along the new centreline rather than directly over the nose. Nose-wheel position differs between aircraft, and larger types may need a later turn to keep the main gear on the pavement.
- Scan for holding points: Enhanced centreline dashes, red mandatory signs and runway guard lights warn that a runway boundary is near. Stop before the actual four-line holding marking.
- Protect the whole aircraft: A centreline does not guarantee wingtip or tail clearance from buildings, vehicles or badly placed scenery objects.
- Confirm that the runway is clear after exit: Keep moving until the tail has crossed the holding-position lines before stopping or contacting ground control.
Why do the markings sometimes disagree with ATC or the map?
MSFS taxi instructions, visual scenery and map guidance can represent different versions of an airport layout. This often becomes visible after a real airport renames taxiways, opens a new apron, moves a holding point or changes a runway configuration.
- Default scenery limitations: Some airports have missing signs, disconnected centrelines, poor edge markings or holding points placed in the wrong location.
- Different airport data snapshots: The visual airport, built-in ATC and navigation data may not all reflect the same layout.
- Duplicate airport packages: Two scenery versions can produce overlapping paint, duplicate buildings and misplaced signs. Disable one of the competing airport packages in the simulator's content library.
- Poor visibility: Darkness, snow, rain or low texture detail can hide paint that is technically present.
- Broken internal taxi routes: Built-in ATC or guidance may choose a path that cuts across grass, enters a closed area or fails to connect with the visible taxiway.
If the disagreement could take you onto a runway, stop before the holding-position marking. Confirm your location from signs and the airport layout. With human ATC, request clarification; when flying offline, reassess the route rather than driving through a closure or protected area because the built-in instruction insists on it.
Does the taxi ribbon replace airport markings?
The taxi ribbon is only a visual route aid. It does not provide runway clearance, confirm wingtip clearance or guarantee that its path matches the painted centreline.
Use it when poor scenery or an unfamiliar layout would otherwise prevent you from finding the assigned route, then verify every intersection and holding point independently. Assistance names and menu locations vary between simulator releases and platforms; our instructions for MSFS 2024 navigation markers and taxi aids explain how these overlays should be used.
Do the lines mean the same thing in MSFS 2020, MSFS 2024 and FSX?
The basic meanings are the same in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and FSX because the markings represent real airport standards rather than simulator-specific controls. The airport's country and local design determine the exact markings.
What changes is scenery fidelity. An older FSX default airport may preserve a superseded layout, while an MSFS airport can still contain generated lines, incomplete signs or data that disagree with ATC. Add-on scenery may correct an airport, but an outdated or overlapping package can also create new conflicts.
Common taxi marking mistakes and their fixes
A mistake we see constantly is treating every yellow line as a continuous path towards the departure runway. Check what the line connects to before following it.
- Following a stand lead-in line: If the line heads towards a gate, parking box or terminal wall, return to the apron taxilane and identify the assigned taxiway.
- Stopping beyond the solid hold lines: Stop before the first solid line, with the whole aircraft on the approach side.
- Stopping at enhanced centreline dashes: These dashes are an advance warning, not the actual runway holding point. Continue cautiously to the four transverse lines.
- Confusing an edge with a centreline: Edge markings normally appear as a pair beside the route; the centreline is a single line intended for the nose wheel.
- Assuming the centreline guarantees clearance: Watch the wingtips and tail, especially in an airliner or at scenery with parked vehicles close to the taxiway.
- Crossing because the ribbon continues: A ribbon, map route or open-looking runway never replaces the required clearance or traffic check.
- Stopping immediately after leaving the runway: Continue until the entire aircraft has crossed the holding-position marking.
- Treating a white runway centreline as another taxiway: White pavement paint indicates that you have reached runway pavement, so verify that entry or crossing is authorised.