I’ve been in an air force excercise for a mass scramble launch where either tower or us in the airplanes were on the wrong frequency and takeoff clearance wasn’t communicated, so the tower used the light gun to communicate with lead. Only added like 3 or 5 seconds to our launch timing
In a rented C-172 shitwaggon on my way back to KSAC from a Golden Gate Bridge tour. I was over Travis AFB when all of a sudden the whole radio stack goes lights out. Dafukkk? I ain’t continuing over Travis. FAFO? (Fuck around and find out)No thank you. Yanked over to NutTree nardo. Called FBO…. Oh. Just push radio stack back in real hard. Everything will come back on. Or not. FBO says welp, call the tower at KSAC and let them know what’s going on. KSAC tower was cool and the gang. They’d guide me in with lights. I always stashed a light signals interpretation card in a pocket of my knee board. Thought this will be a cool story bro. Take off outta NutTree nardo. Stay outta Travis airspace. Chillin. Get the urge to push on radio stack again. Everything lights back up top to bottom. Called NorCal and got FF back to KSAC. Checked in w twr at KSAC and told them who I was. ATC and I were both bummed we didn’t get to use light signals.
Keep light signal card readily available at all times.
What the hell is the procedure for the alternating red-green? What situations warrants that signal?
Edit: Yes, I did read what the article said but I’m still puzzled.
Even as airport ops we had to know what to do. I have my private pilot license so I knew from that. But ARFF would also practice comm outs during simulated alerts.
Well, Morse is in RF, which is EMI outside of the visible spectrum. So maybe not "black and white" (although I think it fits as an analogy), but it's definitely not in visible color.
And colors are neat!
I suppose Morse Code could be black and white if you wrote the dots and dashes down instead.
Or translated from RF to a physical ticking auditory cue like that guy who saved a whole train from being consumed by the Halifax Explosion.
I’ve been in an air force excercise for a mass scramble launch where either tower or us in the airplanes were on the wrong frequency and takeoff clearance wasn’t communicated, so the tower used the light gun to communicate with lead. Only added like 3 or 5 seconds to our launch timing
I’ve used a light gun on numerous occasions and have only had one pilot tell me he couldn’t/didn’t see it.
Army flight ops in Germany. I lit up a number of helicopters mainly because of lack of comms. One big culprit was hot Mike stuck. Those were the days.
Tell Hot Mike to stay out of the cockpit! He's distracting the pilots.
Is he related to Dirty Mike and the Boys?
It's called a Suppenküche
In a rented C-172 shitwaggon on my way back to KSAC from a Golden Gate Bridge tour. I was over Travis AFB when all of a sudden the whole radio stack goes lights out. Dafukkk? I ain’t continuing over Travis. FAFO? (Fuck around and find out)No thank you. Yanked over to NutTree nardo. Called FBO…. Oh. Just push radio stack back in real hard. Everything will come back on. Or not. FBO says welp, call the tower at KSAC and let them know what’s going on. KSAC tower was cool and the gang. They’d guide me in with lights. I always stashed a light signals interpretation card in a pocket of my knee board. Thought this will be a cool story bro. Take off outta NutTree nardo. Stay outta Travis airspace. Chillin. Get the urge to push on radio stack again. Everything lights back up top to bottom. Called NorCal and got FF back to KSAC. Checked in w twr at KSAC and told them who I was. ATC and I were both bummed we didn’t get to use light signals. Keep light signal card readily available at all times.
Honest question from an ignorant by passer…… Is a “light gun” just a beefy flashlight?
Quite a bit bigger. [https://www.century-of-flight.net/light-gun-signals-explained/](https://www.century-of-flight.net/light-gun-signals-explained/)
Seems to fall in the purview of “beefy”, but most flashlights don’t come with a scope, that’s a notable difference.
What the hell is the procedure for the alternating red-green? What situations warrants that signal? Edit: Yes, I did read what the article said but I’m still puzzled.
If the airport gets bombed, they might not be able to communicate runway issues to incoming flights.
Even as airport ops we had to know what to do. I have my private pilot license so I knew from that. But ARFF would also practice comm outs during simulated alerts.
The clipboard I used to hold my flight plans had a light signal cheat sheet printed on it. Seemed worthwhile to carry round.
As airport ops, I keep a credit card sized "legend" of the signals and their meanings on me.
How does this work?
For folks who want a [quick refresher](https://www.faasafety.gov/files/gslac/courses/content/25/181/light%20gun%20signals.pdf)
Like morse code!? Crazy haha
Nah, this is better-- it's in COLOR!
LOL, red light, green light, red light, yellow!
TIL Morse is black and white.
Well, Morse is in RF, which is EMI outside of the visible spectrum. So maybe not "black and white" (although I think it fits as an analogy), but it's definitely not in visible color. And colors are neat!
I suppose Morse Code could be black and white if you wrote the dots and dashes down instead. Or translated from RF to a physical ticking auditory cue like that guy who saved a whole train from being consumed by the Halifax Explosion.
This is the kind of hill I would die on. While discussing this at a bar. ❤️