Editing Runway (section)

==Markings==
{{More citations needed section|date=June 2022}}
There are runway markings and signs on most large runways. Larger runways have a distance remaining sign (black box with white numbers). This sign uses a single number to indicate the remaining distance of the runway in thousands of feet. For example, a 7 will indicate {{Convert|7000|ft|abbr=on|0}} remaining. The runway threshold is marked by a line of green lights.

[[File:RunwayDiagram.png|650px]]

[[File:Runway Number Painting.jpg|alt=Runway Identifying numbers being painted at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport [KBJC]|thumb|Runway Identifying numbers being painted at [[Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport|Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (KBJC)]]]]

There are three types of runways:

* Visual runways are used at small airstrips and are usually just a strip of grass, gravel, ice, asphalt, or concrete. Although there are usually no markings on a visual runway, they may have threshold markings, designators, and centerlines. Additionally, they do not provide an instrument-based landing procedure; pilots must be able to see the runway to use it. Also, radio communication may not be available and pilots must be self-reliant.
* Non-precision instrument runways are often used at small- to medium-size airports. These runways, depending on the surface, may be marked with threshold markings, designators, centerlines, and sometimes a {{Convert|1000|ft|abbr=on|0}} mark (known as an aiming point, sometimes installed at {{Convert|1500|ft|abbr=on|0}}). While centerlines provide horizontal position guidance, aiming point markers provide vertical position guidance to planes on visual approach.
* Precision instrument runways, which are found at medium- and large-size airports, consist of a blast pad/stopway (optional, for airports handling jets), threshold, designator, centerline, aiming point, and {{Convert|500|ft|abbr=on|0}}, {{Convert|1000|ft|abbr=on|0}}/{{Convert|1500|ft|abbr=on|0}}, {{Convert|2000|ft|abbr=on|0}}, {{Convert|2500|ft|abbr=on|0}}, and {{Convert|3000|ft|abbr=on|0}} touchdown zone marks. Precision runways provide both horizontal and vertical guidance for instrument approaches.

Waterways may be unmarked or marked with [[buoy]]s that follow maritime notation instead.<ref>[https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/seaplane_handbook/media/faa-h-8083-23-2.pdf FAA-H-8083-23, Seaplane, Skiplane, and Float/Ski Equipped Helicopter Operations Handbook (Chapters 1–3)]</ref>

For runways and taxiways that are permanently closed, the lighting circuits are disconnected. The runway threshold, runway designation, and touchdown markings are obliterated and yellow "Xs" are placed at each end of the runway and at {{cvt|1000|ft|abbr=on|0}} intervals.<ref>{{Cite PHAK|year=2023|chapter=14|page=14}}</ref>

===National variants===
* In Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom,<ref>[https://publicapps.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAP637%20Visual%20Aids%20Handbook.pdf CAP637, Visual aids handbook, chapter 2, page 3, Issue 2, May 2007, Civil Aviation Authority]</ref> as well as some other countries or territories ([[Hong Kong]] and [[Macau]]) all 3-stripe and 2-stripe touchdown zones for precision runways are replaced with one-stripe touchdown zones.
* In some South American countries like [[Colombia]], [[Ecuador]] and [[Peru]], one 3-stripe is added and a 2-stripe is replaced with the aiming point.
* Some European countries replace the aiming point with a 3-stripe touchdown zone.
* Runways in Norway have yellow markings instead of the usual white ones. This also occurs in some airports in Japan, Sweden, and Finland. The yellow markings are used to ensure better contrast against snow.
* Runways may have different types of equipment on each end. To reduce costs, many airports do not install precision guidance equipment on both ends. Runways with one precision end and any other type of end can install the full set of touchdown zones, even if some are past the midpoint. Runways with precision markings on both ends omit touchdown zones within {{Convert|900|ft|abbr=on|0}} of the midpoint, to avoid ambiguity over the end with which the zone is associated.