Airport lighting – threshold light colour for night landings During night landing operations, what colour are the runway threshold lights (as viewed in the approach direction)?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Green

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Correct identification of runway lighting colours is essential for safe approach and landing at night or in low-visibility conditions. The threshold lighting informs a pilot where the landing portion of the runway begins when viewed on final approach.



Given Data / Assumptions:

  • Standard runway lighting system per common international practice.
  • Observation is from the approach direction (on final).
  • We are specifically asked about threshold lights, not runway end lights.



Concept / Approach:
Threshold lights are displayed as green in the approach direction to indicate the start of the runway available for landing. From the runway side looking outward, the same fittings can show red to denote the runway end in the opposite direction, but that is not the pilot’s view on approach.



Step-by-Step Solution:
Identify the fixture: threshold lights.Determine the viewing direction: on approach.Recall standard colour coding: threshold appears green to inbound aircraft.Hence, select Green.



Verification / Alternative check:
Airport lighting charts and pilot operating handbooks consistently describe threshold lights as green as seen by approaching traffic.



Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • Red: Seen from the runway looking outward (runway end), not on approach.
  • White: Used for runway edge/centreline lighting, not threshold indication.
  • Yellow (amber): Typically used in last portion of runway edge or taxiway edge caution zones.
  • Blue: Taxiway edge lights.



Common Pitfalls:
Mixing up runway end and threshold perspectives; assuming all runway lights are white.



Final Answer:
Green

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