Definition
Designated locations on a taxiway or movement area where an aircraft must stop and wait until ATC issues clearance to proceed. Under the Surface Movement Guidance Control System (SMGCS), hold points are pre-established positions used during low-visibility operations to control the flow of aircraft and vehicles on the airport surface and prevent runway incursions.
Plain English
Specific spots on the airport surface where you must stop and wait for permission before continuing. They are used to keep aircraft safely separated when visibility is poor.
Context Anchor
Seen on airport surface movement plans and low-visibility taxi information, including Surface Movement Guidance Control System (SMGCS) procedures.
Derivation
Hold comes from an old word meaning to keep or stop something in place. Point means a specific marked place. Together, hold points means specific places where movement is held until it is safe or authorized to continue.
Why Pilots Care
They maintain safe separation between aircraft and prevent runway incursions by ensuring pilots do not advance without clearance.
Intuition Check
Do not read hold points as casual waiting areas. In this context, they are specific surface locations tied to instructions, traffic flow, and safety protection.
Example Sentence 1
During low-visibility taxi operations, ground control instructed the crew to taxi to hold point Bravo and hold short of runway 27.
Example Sentence 2
In low-visibility operations the crew identified the illuminated hold points on the taxiway and stopped as required.