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DGCA Air Regulations · 173 questions

Aerodromes, Lighting & Marking: DGCA Air Regulations Questions and Answers

173 practice questions on Aerodromes, Lighting & Marking with answers and explanations, plus the key concepts and formulas, from the TrueHeading question bank.

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About this topic

Use this page to revise Aerodromes, Lighting & Marking for the DGCA Air Regulations paper. Below are the key ideas first, then 12 practice questions with answers and explanations, picked from the 173 questions in the TrueHeading bank for this topic.

In short: From the threshold inwards:

Open the full set in the student zone to answer every question, track your accuracy and take timed mock tests.

Key concepts: Aerodromes, Lighting & Marking

9 ideas to know cold.

Runway markings: what are they?

From the threshold inwards:

  • Threshold stripes, then the runway designator (heading ÷ 10, nearest ten)
  • Touchdown zone bars in pairs
  • Aiming point: two large bars
  • Centreline dashes, white edge lines
09thresholdaiming pointtouchdownzone barsedge linecentre line

Runway lighting colours?

What you see on an instrument runway:

  • Edge: white (yellow on the last 600 m or half the length)
  • Threshold: green · Runway end: red
  • Centreline: white, alternating red/white then all red near the end
  • Touchdown zone: white · Taxiway centreline: green · Taxiway edge: blue

How do you read PAPI?

Four lights set on one side of the runway: more white means high, more red means low.

  • 2 white, 2 red: on the glide path (usually 3°)
  • 3 white, 1 red: slightly high
  • 1 white, 3 red: slightly low
  • All white / all red: too high / too low
too highslightly highON SLOPE (3°)slightly lowtoo lowwhite = above the slope, red = below. 2 white + 2 red is on slope.

Declared distances of a runway?

TORA, TODA, ASDA and LDA.

  • TORA: take-off run available
  • TODA = TORA + clearway (clearway ≤ half TORA)
  • ASDA = TORA + stopway
  • LDA: landing distance available

Tip: RESA minimum 90 m, recommended 240 m.

Aerodrome beacons?

A land aerodrome beacon flashes alternate white and green. A water aerodrome beacon flashes alternate white and yellow.

  • Identification beacon: green flashing morse (land), yellow (water)
  • Seen by day in poor visibility, at night as a primary guide

Rescue and fire fighting categories?

Based on the longest aeroplane using the aerodrome (overall length):

  • Cat 1 under 9 m · 2 up to 12 m · 3 up to 18 m · 4 up to 24 m
  • Cat 5 up to 28 m · 6 up to 39 m · 7 up to 49 m
  • Cat 8 up to 61 m · 9 up to 76 m · 10 up to 90 m

Light signals from the tower?

To an aircraft in flight and on the ground:

  • Steady green: cleared to land / cleared for take-off
  • Steady red: give way and continue circling / stop
  • Flashing green: return for landing / cleared to taxi
  • Flashing red: aerodrome unsafe, do not land / taxi clear of the runway
  • Flashing white: land and proceed to the apron / return to the starting point

How are runway numbers and markings set?

The number is the magnetic bearing of the runway centreline rounded to the nearest 10° and divided by 10 (e.g. 094° → 09).

  • Parallel runways: L, C, R
  • Threshold: white longitudinal stripes
  • Touchdown zone: 150 m intervals; aiming point at 300 m
  • Taxiway centreline: yellow

What are the PAPI indications?

4 white: too high; 3 white 1 red: slightly high; 2 white 2 red: on slope; 1 white 3 red: slightly low; 4 red: too low.

  • Standard slope 3°
  • Located on the left side of the runway

Tip: Red over white: you are all right; white over white: high as a kite; red over red: you are dead.

Practice questions: Aerodromes, Lighting & Marking

Tap “Show answer” after you have tried each one.

Q1A runway with a magnetic bearing of 094° is designated:

  1. 90
  2. 10
  3. 094
  4. 09
Show answer

Answer: D. 09

The designator is the magnetic bearing to the nearest 10° divided by 10: 094° → 090° → 09.

Q2Aerodrome reference code number 4 indicates a reference field length of:

  1. less than 800 m
  2. 800 m to 1 200 m
  3. 1 800 m or more
  4. 1 200 m to 1 800 m
Show answer

Answer: C. 1 800 m or more

Code 1 < 800 m; code 2 800 to <1 200 m; code 3 1 200 to <1 800 m; code 4 ≥ 1 800 m.

Q3TODA (take-off distance available) is:

  1. TORA plus stopway
  2. ASDA plus stopway
  3. TORA plus the length of clearway
  4. LDA plus clearway
Show answer

Answer: C. TORA plus the length of clearway

TODA = TORA + clearway (clearway at most half the TORA).

Q4The standard runway end safety area (RESA) should extend at least:

  1. 90 m beyond the end of the strip (240 m recommended for code 3 and 4)
  2. 30 m
  3. 500 m
  4. 1 000 m
Show answer

Answer: A. 90 m beyond the end of the strip (240 m recommended for code 3 and 4)

Annex 14: minimum 90 m, recommended 240 m (code 3 or 4) beyond the strip end.

Q5A displaced threshold is marked by:

  1. yellow cross
  2. red lights
  3. a white bar at the end
  4. arrows pointing toward the threshold, with a threshold bar across the runway
Show answer

Answer: D. arrows pointing toward the threshold, with a threshold bar across the runway

Arrows on the centreline lead to the displaced threshold.

Q6Runway edge lights are:

  1. blue
  2. red
  3. green
  4. white (yellow in the last 600 m or the last third of the runway on an instrument runway, whichever is less)
Show answer

Answer: D. white (yellow in the last 600 m or the last third of the runway on an instrument runway, whichever is less)

Yellow caution zone for the last part of the instrument runway.

Q7PAPI display of two white and two red lights means the aircraft is:

  1. slightly high
  2. on the approach slope
  3. too high
  4. too low
Show answer

Answer: B. on the approach slope

On the glide path (normal approach).

Q8Category II and III precision approach lighting systems extend:

  1. 1 500 m
  2. 300 m
  3. 2 400 m
  4. 900 m from the threshold
Show answer

Answer: D. 900 m from the threshold

900 m with additional 300 m crossbars and side row barrettes.

Q9The inner horizontal surface is located:

  1. at 45 m above the aerodrome elevation datum (code 3 and 4)
  2. at 300 m above
  3. at the aerodrome elevation
  4. at 150 m above
Show answer

Answer: A. at 45 m above the aerodrome elevation datum (code 3 and 4)

Radius 4 000 m for code 3 or 4 instrument runways.

Q10Runway holding position Pattern A consists of:

  1. one red line
  2. four solid lines
  3. two dashed lines only
  4. two solid and two dashed yellow lines, with the solid lines on the side where the aircraft is to hold
Show answer

Answer: D. two solid and two dashed yellow lines, with the solid lines on the side where the aircraft is to hold

Pattern A is the standard holding position at a runway; the solid lines are on the aircraft's side.

Q11The Aerodrome elevation is:

  1. mean sea level
  2. the elevation of the apron
  3. the elevation of the highest point of the landing area
  4. the elevation of the control tower
Show answer

Answer: C. the elevation of the highest point of the landing area

Aerodrome elevation = highest point of the landing area; aerodrome reference point (ARP) is geographic location.

Q12Runway condition code 6 means:

  1. nil braking
  2. wet runway
  3. ice
  4. a dry runway
Show answer

Answer: D. a dry runway

RWYCC 5 wet, 4 medium to good, 3 medium, 2 medium to poor, 1 poor, 0 nil.

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