CTO Light Gun Signals & Lost Communications 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which light gun signal is used to clear an aircraft on the ground to cross an active runway?
- Steady green (Correct answer)
- Flashing green
- Steady white
- Flashing white
Correct answer: Steady green
A steady green light on the ground authorizes the aircraft to proceed, including crossing an active runway when so instructed.
Question 2: A pilot receives a flashing red light while taxiing. What action is required?
- Stop immediately
- Hold short of the runway
- Taxi clear of the runway in use (Correct answer)
- Return to the starting point on the airport
Correct answer: Taxi clear of the runway in use
A flashing red light directed at a taxiing aircraft means taxi clear of the runway in use.
Question 3: Under the lost communications IFR timing rules, a pilot should begin descent from the IAF or FAF at which of the following times?
- When cleared by an adjacent ARTCC
- At the expect-further-clearance (EFC) time or estimated arrival time from the filed flight plan (Correct answer)
- Immediately upon experiencing radio failure
- At the discretion of the pilot in command
Correct answer: At the expect-further-clearance (EFC) time or estimated arrival time from the filed flight plan
The pilot should begin the approach at the EFC time, or if none was given, at the estimated time of arrival based on the filed flight plan.
Question 4: A student pilot asks what the acronym NORDO means. The correct answer is:
- No Radio Direction Operations
- No Radio (Correct answer)
- Non-Operational Radio Detection
- Normal Operating Radio Disabled
Correct answer: No Radio
NORDO is ATC shorthand for 'No Radio,' indicating an aircraft that has lost or lacks two-way radio communication capability.
Question 5: An aircraft in flight that has lost communications is approaching a class D airport. To signal acknowledgment of a cleared-to-land light gun signal at night, the pilot should:
- Rock wings twice
- Flash the landing lights twice (Correct answer)
- Turn the transponder to standby
- Flash navigation lights on and off
Correct answer: Flash the landing lights twice
At night, airborne pilots acknowledge light gun signals by flashing the landing lights on and off.
Question 6: Controllers must log light gun signals in the facility records. Which information is typically recorded?
- Time, aircraft identification, type of signal, and acknowledgment received (Correct answer)
- Frequency used, transponder code, and runway assigned
- Weather conditions, visibility, and ceiling at time of signal
- ATC specialist name, shift supervisor, and date only
Correct answer: Time, aircraft identification, type of signal, and acknowledgment received
The time, aircraft identification, type of signal given, and whether acknowledgment was received must be documented.
Question 7: Which statement about the light gun's effective range is most accurate?
- It is effective at any range as long as the beam is aimed correctly
- Effective range is typically several miles in good visibility but decreases significantly in haze or precipitation (Correct answer)
- It has a fixed effective range of exactly 5 statute miles regardless of conditions
- It is only effective within the airport's Class D airspace boundary
Correct answer: Effective range is typically several miles in good visibility but decreases significantly in haze or precipitation
Light gun effective range can be several miles in good visibility but degrades in haze, fog, or precipitation due to light scattering.
CTO Light Gun Signals & Lost Communications 5
Which light gun signal is used to clear an aircraft on the ground to cross an active runway?