Airport Tower Light Signals

In the case of a radio failure or aircraft not equipped with a radio or in the case of a deaf pilot air traffic control may use a signal lamp called a signal light gun or light gun by the faa to direct the aircraft.

Airport tower light signals.

In an airplane a flashing red light from the tower is a signal to taxi clear of the runway in use. They also make it possible for pilots who are deaf to land at controlled airports. Icao regulations require air traffic control towers to possess such signal lamps. Similar to an automobile traffic light the atc light signals will use three different colours.

Of a runway without clearance from the control tower. Aviation light gun signals light guns allow tower controllers to use a beam of light to communicate with pilots of aircraft or drivers of ground vehicles who do not have radios or who have had a radio failure. Light gun signals color and type of signal aircraft on the ground aircraft in flight steady green cleared for takeoff cleared to land flashing green cleared for taxi return for landing steady red stop give way and continue circling flashing red taxi clear of runway in use airport unsafe do not land flashing white return to starting point on airport. The controller may have another airplane waiting to land.

If radio malfunction occurs after departing the parking area watch the tower for light signals or monitor tower frequency. Pilots should respond to light gun signals to acknowledge them just like any other instruction. Atc light gun signals are instructions issues by a controller and pilots are required to comply with them. The last light signal is the flashing white light.

During daylight hours acknowledge tower transmissions or light signals by moving the ailerons or rudder. As with any atc instruction never compromise the safe or legal operation of the flight for the sake of complying with a light gun signal. However instead of red green and yellow used by automobile traffic signals the atc light signals use the colours red green and white. When a pilot is flying with no radio nordo they must watch for the aviation light gun signals from the control tower.

All directions given by standard light signals from any control tower shall be strictly adhered to and it shall be the responsibility of all operators of motor vehicles to know the meaning of and obey said standard light signals. 68 08 on 8 4 1970 by o 10355 n s. Air traffic control signal light gun in use at base flight tower. You might have just landed without a radio and are taxiing down the active runway.