Runway threshold marking

A block of parallel white stripes across a runway, marking where landing may begin.

Also known as: Piano keys, Stripes on a runway

Road & transportMaps & navigationStandard profile

Meanings

The block of stripes at the end of a runway marks the threshold — where the landing surface begins. The number of stripes is not decorative: it states the runway's width, so a pilot reads a dimension off the paint.

Common modern usageVerified fact
Marks the threshold of a runway, the point from which the surface is available for landing.
Contexts: Navigation
Common modern usageVerified fact
States the runway's width by the number of stripes, which follows a fixed table rather than being chosen for appearance.
Contexts: Navigation
Common modern usageVerified fact
Is nicknamed the piano keys for its appearance, a name used in practice and in no official document.
Contexts: Navigation

Visual description

A block of long white stripes of equal width running along the runway's direction, arranged symmetrically either side of the centre line at the runway's end.

Symmetry: vertical
Orientation: upright
Colours: white

Confidence

IdentityModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the identity is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.
Historical originLow confidence: Low confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Current useModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the current use is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.
Visual matchModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the visual match is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.

Sources

Runway
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-08-01
Tertiary reference. Used for what a symbol depicts and which authority publishes it, not for the legend of any particular chart series or the text of any standard.

Last reviewed 2026-08-01

Part of

Map, chart and weather symbols

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Meanings

Common modern usageVerified fact

Marks the threshold of a runway, the point from which the surface is available for landing.

Contexts: Navigation

Common modern usageVerified fact

States the runway's width by the number of stripes, which follows a fixed table rather than being chosen for appearance.

Contexts: Navigation

Common modern usageVerified fact

Is nicknamed the piano keys for its appearance, a name used in practice and in no official document.

Contexts: Navigation

Confidence

IdentityModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the identity is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.
Historical originLow confidence: Low confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Current useModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the current use is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.
Visual matchModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the visual match is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.