Table 8-2.—Signals from a Ship to an Aircraft in Distress
SIGNAL
MEANING AND PURPOSE
OPTICAL LANDING
** ALDIS LAMP
BLINKER
SYSTEM
1. Flashing cut and wave off
Flashing RED light.
M,M
* BINGO—to alternate landing field.
lights.
2. Flashing, cut lights.
N/A
3. N/A
Steady GREEN light
4. Flashing landing area lights. Steady RED light
N/A
Add power—(jets and turbo props only).
C
CHARLIE—Cleared to board
D
DELTA-Delay in landing. Enter DELTA pattern and
maintain visual contact with the ship.
5. Landing area lights off. (night
N / A
only)
6. N/A
Z
N/A
Z
Closed deck. Do not land.
Do not land. Ditch or bail out/eject in the vicinity of the
ship.
7. Steady (3 sec.) cut lights.
N/A
N/A
LSO has control of the aircraft on final approach at
approximately 1 l/2 miles.
8. N/A
H
H
Lower hook.
9. N/A
W
W
ILower wheels.
10. N/A
F
11. N/A
G
12. N/A
Q
F
Lower flaps.
G
Jettison disposable fuel tank.
Q
Jettison ordinance.
OTHER
13. Series of GREEN FLARES (day only in wartime).
Ship ready to receive aircraft for IMMEDIATE
emergency landing.
14. Series of RED FLARES.
Do not land even if previous authorization has been
given.
15. Flag: EMERGENCY FOXTROT (aircraft) EMERGENCY Have emergency landing in progress. (Aircraft not
HOTEL (helicopter)
involved keep clear.)
SUBMARINE EMERGENCIES
One red smoke bomb repeated as often as
possible indicates “Keep clear, I am carrying out
The following signals are prescribed for
emergency surfacing procedures.”
submerged submarines in emergency situations in
ACP 168, Pyrotechnic Signals, is an excellent
which the submarine must come to periscope depth or
reference to locate the different types of pyrotechnic
surface:
signals.
A yellow or white smoke bomb fired into the air,
SURFACE SHIP EMERGENCIES
followed by a second yellow or white smoke
bomb 3 minutes later indicates that the
submarine is coming to the surface. Ships are to
International emergency signals for surface ships
clear the immediate area but should not stop
are discussed in chapter 6.
propellers. (White and yellow are synonymous
For a man-overboard situation, the daytime
because, under certain atmospheric conditions,
display is the OSCAR flag, flown at the foretruck or
white signals may appear yellow.)
where it can best be seen (remember, as you learned
8-11
