Light Gun Signals

Do you know the light gun signals that are used in case of a radio failure or if your aircraft is not equipped with a radio? Air Traffic Control (ATC) will use a signal lamp to give you instructions and clearance limits. The light gun has a focused bright beam and is capable of emitting three different colors: red, white and green. You have to look closely but they are visible from a surprising distance away. These colors may be flashed or steady, and have different meanings to aircraft depending if you are in flight or on the ground. Pilots can acknowledge the instructions by “rocking” their wings, moving the ailerons if on the ground, or by flashing their landing or navigation lights during hours of darkness. Here’s a quick refresher to the signals used:

Flashing Green on the Ground: 
Cleared to Taxi

   

 Flashing Green in the Air: 

Cleared to approach, or return to land

         


                                                

Steady Green on the Ground:    
Cleared for Takeoff                                               

Steady Green in the Air:

Cleared to Land

                                                                              
Steady Red on the Ground:  
Stop                                             
 

Steady Red in the Air:

Continue to circle, give way to other traffic

                                                                  
Flashing Red on the Ground:   
Immediately taxi clear of runway in use                                                        

                 

Flashing Red in the Air:

Airport unsafe, DO NOT LAND

                                     
Alternating Red/Green on the ground:  
Exercise Extreme Caution                                        

Alternating Red/Green in the Air:

Exercise Extreme Caution

    
Flashing White on the Ground:   
Return to starting point                                             






        

There is no flashing white in the Air: