Definition
Pink-shaded circular markings depicted on Low Visibility Taxi Route charts that identify specific holding locations along a designated taxi route under the Surface Movement Guidance and Control System (SMGCS). Pilots are required to stop at a pink spot and obtain explicit clearance from ground control before proceeding past it.
Plain English
Pink dots drawn on the special low-visibility taxi chart that mark places where you must stop and get permission from the controller before continuing.
Context Anchor
Seen on airport pavement and on low-visibility taxi charts at airports that use SMGCS procedures.
Derivation
The name comes from what the markings look like: pink painted spots on the airport surface. That simple visual name helps pilots connect the charted location with the actual marking they see from the cockpit.
Why Pilots Care
They allow pilots to know the precise stopping points for stop-bar operations, reducing the chance of runway incursions in low visibility.
Grounding Statement
A pink spot is a numbered pavement marker that acts like a fixed location point on the airport surface.
Intuition Check
Do not treat “pink spots” as informal stains or decoration on the pavement. In this context, they are official location markings used for low-visibility ground movement.
Example Sentence 1
Taxiing in 600 RVR, the captain stopped at the pink spot on the chart and waited for ground to clear them across the next taxiway intersection.
Example Sentence 2
During the low-visibility taxi, the crew confirmed their position relative to the pink spots before proceeding past the stop bar.