Airmark

/ˈɛrˌmɑrk/ noun

Definition

A distinctive marking, symbol, or sign painted or placed on ground to help airplane pilots navigate or identify locations from the air.

Etymology

From 'air' + 'mark' (a visible sign). Developed in early aviation when pilots needed visual aids for navigation before modern instruments existed.

Kelly Says

Early pilots used airmarks—huge painted arrows and numbers on building roofs—to navigate. Some of these hand-painted landmarks are still visible on Google Earth, ghostly reminders of when flying was simple navigation by eyesight and landmarks.

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