ATC light signals

In plain English

When radios fail, a tower can direct you with a light gun. Memorise the signals — each color means one thing to an aircraft in flight and another on the ground.

Key points

• Steady green: cleared to land (in flight) / cleared for takeoff (ground).
• Flashing green: return for landing (in flight) / cleared to taxi (ground).
• Steady red: give way and keep circling (in flight) / stop (ground).
• Flashing red: airport unsafe, do not land (in flight) / taxi clear of the runway (ground).
• Flashing white: return to your starting point on the airport (ground).
• Alternating red and green: exercise extreme caution.

Common pitfalls

• Confusing the in-flight versus on-the-ground meaning of the same color.

Summary: Light-gun signals let a tower direct you without radios — learn the in-flight and on-the-ground meaning of steady/flashing green and red, flashing white, and alternating red-green.