Modern use of ALDIS Lamp???

[Lurking_SLF]

I was looking around the IAA site today and I came across this gem for Shannon Airport:

Note 1: In the event of a radio failure:
- Aircraft from the West, route to the Feenish island Hold
- Aircraft form the East, route to the Bunratty Castle Hold
to receive landing instructions from the Control Tower using the ALDIS lamp.

The doc is here:
EINN AD 2.24

and the date is 28 Sep 2006

Now I'm sure actual pilots have a different version of this doc, but.... This got me wondering - how many of you out there know your morse code???

Darragh

[Rhayader]

I doubt the tower would be sending morse code, rather the colour light signals below:

Steady green = clear to land.
Flashing green = return to this airport to land when steady green displayed.
Steady red = Continue circling, give way to other aircraft.
Flashing red = Airport unsafe, do not land.

[Old Photo.Fanatic]

Slight off thread.
Remides me of an incident at Marham quite a few years ago.

Two RAF coaches loaded with Press Photographers driving to vantage spot for B-52 deployment arrivals.

Driving down cross runway/taxiway.
Nothing else except a USAF C-141 coming towards us!!

Both coaches way over to edge of taxi way.
The front coach (I was in this one) gets a "red light"" from the tower, driver responds, breaks quickly and stops.
Not so the coach behind!!!!! BANG, ploughs into the back of us.
Minor damage but lots of bods/camera gear shaken up.

It took lots of pleading/arguments/ words etc. to stop the then Press Officer (in a minor state of panic) from ordering both coaches back to the MT section.
No way were we going back.
Eventually we made it to the Photo. spot just in time for the first B-52 arrival.

You had to experience it to fully appreciate the irony and humour of it all.

OPF

[Lurking_SLF]

Rhayader,

I stand a little more educated this evening than this morning!

Thanks,
Darragh

[DeepestSouth]

Some gliding airfields also use them, to signal from the launch point to the winch operator.