CFC Airfield Lighting & Signaling 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What color are the last 2,000 feet (or last half, whichever is less) of runway edge lights on a runway longer than 4,000 feet?
- White
- Blue
- Yellow (Correct answer)
- Red
Correct answer: Yellow
Runway edge lights transition from white to yellow (amber) in the caution zone — the last 2,000 feet or last half of the runway, whichever is less.
Question 2: A pilot using PAPI sees all four lights showing red. What does this indicate?
- On the correct glidepath
- Slightly above glidepath
- Slightly below glidepath
- Well below glidepath (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Well below glidepath
Four red PAPI lights indicate the aircraft is well below the glidepath and at risk — the common mnemonic is 'all red, you're dead.'
Question 3: On a standard 2-bar VASI, which combination indicates the aircraft is on the correct glidepath?
- Both bars white
- Near bar white, far bar red (Correct answer)
- Near bar red, far bar white
- Both bars red
Correct answer: Near bar white, far bar red
On a 2-bar VASI, a white near bar and red far bar means the aircraft is on the correct glidepath — 'white over red, you're ahead (on glide).'
Question 4: Runway End Identifier Lights (REIL) consist of:
- A row of green lights across the threshold
- Two synchronized flashing lights flanking the runway threshold (Correct answer)
- A sequenced series of white strobes along the approach
- Flashing amber lights embedded in the centerline
Correct answer: Two synchronized flashing lights flanking the runway threshold
REIL consists of two synchronized omnidirectional flashing white lights, one on each side of the runway threshold, to improve threshold identification.
Question 5: Touchdown zone lights (TDZL) extend from the threshold for how far down the runway?
- 500 feet
- 1,000 feet
- 3,000 feet (Correct answer)
- 5,000 feet
Correct answer: 3,000 feet
TDZL consist of two rows of transverse white light bars extending 3,000 feet from the runway threshold to aid pilots in identifying the touchdown zone during low-visibility approaches.
Question 6: The Approach Lighting System with Sequenced Flashing Lights (ALSF-2) is primarily designed for:
- Visual flight approaches in VMC
- Category II and III precision instrument approaches (Correct answer)
- Helicopter landing areas
- Night VFR pattern operations only
Correct answer: Category II and III precision instrument approaches
ALSF-2 is a high-intensity approach lighting system with sequenced flashers designed for Category II and III ILS precision approaches in very low visibility conditions.
Question 7: A displaced threshold is indicated by:
- Red lights across the original threshold and white lights at the displaced threshold (Correct answer)
- Flashing yellow lights along the displaced section
- Orange cones placed on the centerline
- Extinguished runway edge lights before the displaced threshold
Correct answer: Red lights across the original threshold and white lights at the displaced threshold
Red threshold lights face outward (toward approaching aircraft) at the original threshold end, while green lights face inward at the displaced threshold, showing the area before it is unusable for landing.
CFC Airfield Lighting & Signaling 2
What color are the last 2,000 feet (or last half, whichever is less) of runway edge lights on a runway longer than 4,000 feet?