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SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/pilot-runway-edge-yellow-caution

On an instrument runway, what color marks the edge-light caution zone near the far end?

Yellow, to warn that the runway end is near.

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  1. Red
  2. Blue
  3. Yellow ✔

Why: Runway edge lights are normally white. On instrument runways, yellow replaces white for the last 2,000 feet or half the runway length, whichever is less, to form a landing caution zone.

Huh, didn't know that: Military airport beacons flash two quick white flashes between each green flash, to tell them apart from civilian airports.

The dad joke
The runway lights turned yellow near the end. Even the runway knows when to slow down.
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References

Answer: Yellow. Runway edge lights are normally white. On instrument runways, yellow replaces white for the last 2,000 feet or half the runway length, whichever is less, to form a landing caution zone.

  1. AIM 2-1-4, Runway Edge Light Systems www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aim_html/chap2_section_1.html
    on instrument runways yellow replaces white on the last 2,000 feet or half the runway length, whichever is less
    Checked 2026-10-09.

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