Aerodrome Lights
At night and in poor visibility, colour is the language of the aerodrome: every light colour has a fixed, internationally standardised meaning defined in ICAO Annex 14, Vol I, Chapter 5.3. Knowing the colour code cold — green threshold, red runway end, blue taxiway edge — is a favourite exam topic and a genuine safety skill for your first night or dusk arrivals. This lesson also covers the visual glide path (PAPI) and the light signals used when radio communication fails.
Aerodrome and identification beacons
The aerodrome beacon (ABN) is a rotating or flashing light that identifies the aerodrome's location from afar at night or in reduced visibility:
- Land aerodrome: alternating white and green flashes.
- Water aerodrome: alternating white and yellow flashes.
- Flash rate: 20–30 flashes per minute.
The identification beacon (IBN) is used where an aerodrome cannot easily be identified by other means: at land aerodromes it flashes green, transmitting the aerodrome's identifier in Morse code.
Runway and taxiway lights — the colour code
| Light | Colour |
|---|---|
| Runway edge | White; the last 600 m or last third of the runway (whichever is less) may show yellow in the direction of use, as a runway-end caution |
| Threshold | Green, across the threshold, seen from the approach |
| Runway end | Red, across the runway end, seen from the runway |
| Runway centre line | White, then alternating red/white over the last 900 m and red over the last 300 m |
| Touchdown zone (TDZ) | White, either side of the centre line in the touchdown zone |
| Taxiway edge | Blue |
| Taxiway centre line | Green |
Memory hook: on landing you fly towards green (threshold) and must stop before red (runway end); if you see blue either side of you, you are on a taxiway.
Approach lighting
An approach lighting system is a row of lights extending from the threshold into the approach area, helping the pilot transition from instrument to visual references. Its configuration depends on the runway category (simple approach lighting for non-instrument/non-precision runways; longer, more complex systems for precision approach runways Cat I and Cat II/III).
PAPI — the visual glide path
The PAPI (Precision Approach Path Indicator) is a row of 4 lights beside the runway (normally on the left), perpendicular to the approach direction. Each unit shows white when seen from above its set angle and red from below, so the white/red combination tells you your position relative to the nominal glide path (typically 3°):
- 4 white = too high.
- 3 white, 1 red = slightly high.
- 2 white, 2 red = on glide path (typically 3°).
- 1 white, 3 red = slightly low.
- 4 red = too low.
- Mnemonic: "Red over white — you're alright. Red over red — you're dead."
VASIS / T-VASIS are older visual approach slope systems with a similar function, using two or more light bars.
Light signals to aircraft (SERA Appendix 1 / ICAO Annex 2 Appendix 1)
When radio communication is unavailable or has failed, the tower directs traffic with a signalling lamp. The meanings differ depending on whether the aircraft is in flight or on the ground — learn both tables.
From tower to aircraft in flight:
| Signal | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Steady green | Cleared to land |
| Flashing green | Return for landing; landing clearance follows |
| Steady red | Give way to other aircraft and continue circling |
| Flashing red | Aerodrome unsafe, do not land |
| Flashing white | Land at this aerodrome and proceed to apron |
| Red pyrotechnic | Notwithstanding any previous instructions, do not land for the time being |
From tower to aircraft on the ground:
| Signal | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Steady green | Cleared for take-off |
| Flashing green | Cleared to taxi |
| Steady red | Stop |
| Flashing red | Taxi clear of the landing area in use |
| Flashing white | Return to starting point on the aerodrome |
Acknowledgement by the aircraft:
- In flight, by day: rocking the wings (not on base leg or final approach).
- On the ground, by day: moving the ailerons or rudder.
- By night: flashing the landing light twice (or, if not equipped, the navigation lights twice).
Europe (EASA / EU)
The light signals are binding EU-wide through SERA Appendix 1 (Regulation (EU) No 923/2012), which is identical with ICAO Annex 2, Appendix 1. The aerodrome lighting standards of Annex 14 apply EU-wide via Regulation (EU) No 139/2014 (Part-ADR).
Germany (national)
Applied under EU law. The AIP Germany publishes the lighting actually installed at each aerodrome (approach lighting, PAPI/VASIS, runway edge, TDZ, beacon). At small VFR airfields, often only runway edge lighting and an illuminated wind direction indicator are available — check before planning a night arrival.
Exam essentials
- An aerodrome beacon flashes white/green at a land aerodrome and white/yellow at a water aerodrome.
- The colour code is: runway edge white (yellow near the end), threshold green, runway end red, taxiway edge blue, taxiway centre line green.
- PAPI: 2 white and 2 red means on the glide path; 4 white means far too high; 4 red means far too low.
- Steady green to an aircraft in flight means cleared to land; steady green on the ground means cleared for take-off.
- Flashing red in flight means the aerodrome is unsafe — do not land; flashing red on the ground means taxi clear of the landing area.
- A red pyrotechnic means: notwithstanding previous instructions, do not land for the time being.
- Acknowledgement: in flight by day rock the wings (not on base or final); on the ground by day move ailerons or rudder; by night flash the landing light (or navigation lights) twice.