FAA Ground School Practice Test

What should a pilot do when receiving alternating green and red lights followed by a flashing red light from the control tower while on final approach?

1. Continue the approach

2. Exercise extreme caution and abandon the approach

3. Request a go-around

4. Land immediately

The correct answer is: Exercise extreme caution and abandon the approach

When a pilot receives alternating green and red lights followed by a flashing red light from the control tower while on final approach, it signifies that the situation is critical and requires immediate attention. The combination of alternating green and red lights indicates that the pilot should exercise extreme caution regarding the approach. The subsequent flashing red light is a warning to indicate that the landing should not proceed safely under the current conditions. Choosing to exercise extreme caution and abandon the approach is the appropriate response to ensure safety. This sequence of lights typically means that either the runway is not clear for landing or some other serious safety concern has arisen. The pilot should be prepared to execute a go-around maneuver, ensuring that they do not endanger themselves, their aircraft, or anyone on the ground. The key takeaway here is that safety is paramount, and unexpected signals demand an immediate reassessment of the landing situation.