At 3000 ft from the end, runway centerline lights transition to which pattern?

• A. White and Red
• B. Red and White
• C. White
• D. Red

Answer: (B)

Runway centerline lights use a change in color to signal you’re nearing the end of the runway. For the main portion of the runway, the lights are white. In the final 3,000 feet from the far end, they switch to an alternating red and white pattern. This red-and-white sequence gives a clear visual cue that the landing area is coming to an end, helping pilots judge distance to the end. So at 3,000 feet from the end, you would see alternating red and white lights along the centerline. White would still be seen farther from the end, and red alone is typically reserved for the very end cues, not the 3,000-foot transition.