Which statement best describes the Aldis lamp procedure for a NORDO approach to KNGP on a course rules arrival?

Which statement best describes the Aldis lamp procedure for a NORDO approach to KNGP on a course rules arrival?

• A. Land immediately if no lamp signal is observed.
• B. Circulate once and then land if no signal.
• C. Wait for radio contact and land when cleared.
• D. Wave-off into the pattern; attempt a second pass; if no lamp signal is observed and the runway is clear, land.

Answer: (D)

The essential idea is that without radio, you rely on visual signals from the Aldis lamp to get clearance to land. On a NORDO approach to a course rules arrival, you should not assume you’re cleared if you don’t see a lamp signal. The correct procedure is to wave off, fly a standard circuit back for another approach, and only land if, after that second pass, you still have no lamp signal but the runway is clear. This gives the controller another chance to signal you or a traffic check to ensure it’s safe to land. This keeps you from landing without explicit clearance and preserves safety when communications are down. Waiting for radio contact isn’t feasible in a NORDO situation, and landing on the first pass without any lamp signal could put you on a runway with unknown clearance. Moving through the pattern with a go-around and reattempt provides a controlled, repeatable method to obtain or confirm clearance.

The essential idea is that without radio, you rely on visual signals from the Aldis lamp to get clearance to land. On a NORDO approach to a course rules arrival, you should not assume you’re cleared if you don’t see a lamp signal. The correct procedure is to wave off, fly a standard circuit back for another approach, and only land if, after that second pass, you still have no lamp signal but the runway is clear. This gives the controller another chance to signal you or a traffic check to ensure it’s safe to land.

This keeps you from landing without explicit clearance and preserves safety when communications are down. Waiting for radio contact isn’t feasible in a NORDO situation, and landing on the first pass without any lamp signal could put you on a runway with unknown clearance. Moving through the pattern with a go-around and reattempt provides a controlled, repeatable method to obtain or confirm clearance.