6/17/21 

AIM 

situational awareness. Additionally, surface vehicles 
and aircraft being taxied by maintenance personnel 
may also be participating in LAHSO, especially in 
those operations that involve crossing an active 
runway. 

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12.  Low Approach 

a. 

A low approach (sometimes referred to as a low 

pass) is the go

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around maneuver following an 

approach. Instead of landing or making a touch

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and

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go, a pilot may wish to go around (low approach) in 
order to expedite a particular operation (a series of 
practice instrument approaches is an example of such 
an operation). Unless otherwise authorized by ATC, 
the low approach should be made straight ahead, with 
no turns or climb made until the pilot has made a 
thorough visual check for other aircraft in the area. 

b. 

When operating within a Class B, Class C, and 

Class D surface area, a pilot intending to make a low 
approach should contact the tower for approval. This 
request should be made prior to starting the final 
approach. 

c. 

When operating to an airport, not within a 

Class B, Class C, and Class D surface area, a pilot 
intending to make a low approach should, prior to 
leaving the final approach fix inbound (nonprecision 
approach) or the outer marker or fix used in lieu of the 
outer marker inbound (precision approach), so advise 
the FSS, UNICOM, or make a broadcast as 
appropriate. 

REFERENCE

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AIM, Paragraph 4

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9 , Traffic Advisory Practices at Airports Without 

Operating Control Towers 

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13.  Traffic Control Light Signals 

a. 

The following procedures are used by ATCTs in 

the control of aircraft, ground vehicles, equipment, 

and personnel not equipped with radio. These same 
procedures will be used to control aircraft, ground 
vehicles, equipment, and personnel equipped with 
radio if radio contact cannot be established. ATC 
personnel use a directive traffic control signal which 
emits an intense narrow light beam of a selected color 
(either red, white, or green) when controlling traffic 
by light signals. 

b. 

Although the traffic signal light offers the 

advantage that some control may be exercised over 
nonradio equipped aircraft, pilots should be cog-
nizant of the disadvantages which are: 

1. 

Pilots may not be looking at the control tower 

at the time a signal is directed toward their aircraft. 

2. 

The directions transmitted by a light signal 

are very limited since only approval or disapproval of 
a pilot’s anticipated actions may be transmitted. No 
supplement or explanatory information may be 
transmitted except by the use of the “General 
Warning Signal” which advises the pilot to be on the 
alert. 

c. 

Between sunset and sunrise, a pilot wishing to 

attract the attention of the control tower should turn 
on a landing light and taxi the aircraft into a position, 
clear of the active runway, so that light is visible to the 
tower. The landing light should remain on until 
appropriate signals are received from the tower. 

d. 

Airport Traffic Control Tower Light Gun 

Signals. (See TBL 4

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1.) 

e. 

During daylight hours, acknowledge tower 

transmissions or light signals by moving the ailerons 
or rudder. At night, acknowledge by blinking the 
landing or navigation lights. If radio malfunction 
occurs after departing the parking area, watch the 
tower for light signals or monitor tower frequency. 

Airport Operations 

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