If you lose all radio communication and must approach a towered aerodrome, the tower will communicate with you using a light gun—a focused, colored light beam that can project red or green light signals. Learn these signals now, even though you may never need them:
From the tower to an aircraft in flight:
- Steady green: Cleared to land.
- Flashing green: Return to circuit; do not land yet.
- Steady red: Do not land; go around immediately.
- Flashing red: Aerodrome unsafe; do not land; go to alternate.
- Flashing white: Return to starting point (usually used only for taxiing aircraft).
From an aircraft to the tower (using the aircraft's lights, e.g., landing light, strobes):
- Flashing the landing light: Affirmative or "yes" acknowledgment of tower signal.
- Flashing the landing light three times: Negative or "no" acknowledgment, or "unable to comply."
In practice, once you see a steady green light from the tower, you are cleared to land. If you see a steady red light, go around immediately—climb to circuit altitude, maintain a stable turn, and wait for further signals.
Tower light signals from the tower to your aircraft:Tower light signals from the tower to your aircraft: