Definition
An airport sign with a yellow background and black graphic showing the runway safety area/obstacle free zone marking, posted on the back of a runway holding position sign and used by pilots exiting the runway to identify the point at which they have cleared the runway safety area.
Plain English
A sign that tells a pilot taxiing off the runway when they are far enough away from the runway to be considered clear of it.
Context Anchor
Seen while taxiing off a runway, usually near the pavement marking that shows the runway holding position from the runway side.
Why Pilots Care
Until the aircraft passes this sign, it is still considered to be on the runway from a separation standpoint. Stopping short of it can block following traffic or interfere with another aircraft's landing or takeoff. Knowing exactly where 'clear of the runway' begins prevents runway incursions and miscommunication with ATC.
Grounding Statement
When you exit the runway, this sign is one of the cues that you are leaving the protected runway area and entering the taxiway side.
Intuition Check
Do not read this as a general warning that the runway is nearby. In this context, it marks the boundary of the protected runway area for aircraft moving away from the runway.
Example Sentence 1
After landing, the pilot continued taxiing until the entire aircraft was past the runway safety area boundary sign before reporting clear of the runway to ground control.
Example Sentence 2
During a low-visibility departure, the crew used the runway safety area boundary sign to confirm they remained inside the protected zone.