ACE Airfield Lighting and Maintenance 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Approach Lighting Systems (ALS) are primarily designed to assist pilots with which phase of flight?
- Takeoff roll
- Initial climb
- Transition from instrument to visual flight during landing (Correct answer)
- Ground taxi to gate
Correct answer: Transition from instrument to visual flight during landing
ALS helps pilots transition from instrument references to visual references during the final approach.
Question 2: What color are runway end lights as seen by an aircraft on approach?
- Red (Correct answer)
- White
- Green
- Amber
Correct answer: Red
Runway end lights show red toward approaching aircraft, signaling the end of the available runway.
Question 3: The Visual Approach Slope Indicator (VASI) shows a pilot they are on the correct glide path when the lights appear as:
- All white
- All red
- Red over white (near bar red, far bar white) (Correct answer)
- White over red
Correct answer: Red over white (near bar red, far bar white)
On glidepath, the near bar appears red and the far bar appears white — remembered as 'red over white, you're alright.'
Question 4: Which of the following best describes the MALSR approach lighting system?
- Medium intensity ALS with runway alignment indicator lights (Correct answer)
- High intensity ALS for CAT III ILS operations
- Omni-directional approach lighting
- Precision approach path indicator system
Correct answer: Medium intensity ALS with runway alignment indicator lights
MALSR stands for Medium intensity Approach Lighting System with Runway alignment indicator lights.
Question 5: Touchdown Zone Lights (TDZL) are located in what area of the runway?
- Last 3,000 feet of the runway
- First 3,000 feet of the runway from the threshold (Correct answer)
- Entire length of the runway
- Displaced threshold area only
Correct answer: First 3,000 feet of the runway from the threshold
TDZLs are installed in the first 3,000 feet of the runway from the threshold to aid pilots during touchdown.
Question 6: A PAPI system using four light units shows two red and two white lights. This indicates the aircraft is:
- Too high
- Too low
- On the correct glidepath (Correct answer)
- Off the runway centerline
Correct answer: On the correct glidepath
Two red and two white lights on a PAPI indicate the aircraft is on the correct approach slope.
Question 7: Which runway marking or lighting element identifies a runway with a displaced threshold?
- Yellow chevrons and white arrows pointing toward the threshold (Correct answer)
- Red 'X' markings
- Blue edge lights
- Alternating green and white threshold lights
Correct answer: Yellow chevrons and white arrows pointing toward the threshold
Displaced thresholds are marked with yellow chevrons in the unusable area and white arrows directing aircraft toward the actual threshold.
ACE Airfield Lighting and Maintenance 3
Approach Lighting Systems (ALS) are primarily designed to assist pilots with which phase of flight?