Definition
Airport signs that identify the taxiway or runway the aircraft is currently on. They display yellow inscriptions on a black background with a yellow border, and have no arrows. Location signs tell the pilot where they are, not where to go.
Plain English
A sign at an airport that tells you the name of the taxiway or runway you are sitting on right now. Black sign, yellow letters, no arrows.
Context Anchor
Seen while taxiing on an airport, especially near taxiway intersections, runway exits, and areas where a pilot must confirm the aircraft’s exact position.
Derivation
Location comes from a Latin word meaning “place.” Sign comes from a Latin word meaning “mark” or “signal.” Together, the phrase points to a marker that tells you the place you are at, not the place you are being directed to go.
Why Pilots Care
They reduce the risk of runway incursions by confirming exact location before crossing or entering active areas.
Analogy
A location sign is like the “You are here” label on a map in a mall or airport terminal.
Intuition Check
Do not read “location signs” as any sign that happens to be located somewhere on the airport. In this FAA context, it means signs that identify where the aircraft is on the airport surface.
Example Sentence 1
After exiting the runway, the pilot checked the location sign and confirmed they were on Taxiway Bravo before calling ground.
Example Sentence 2
After the turn, the next location sign showed they had reached the intersection with runway 27.