Observing Perimeter Road traffic lights essential for smooth landings Published Feb. 26, 2007 By 2nd Lieutenant Anthony Bombaci 4th Operation Support Squadron SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- When you drive, ride or run around the airfield on Perimeter Road, you may notice certain traffic lights with signs that read, "Stop here when light is flashing." The airfield has two precision-approach landing systems that help guide aircraft to the runway at a specific heading and glide slope. Due to the sensitivity of the system, any objects interfering with the path of the radio waves may cause erroneous readings to incoming aircraft and prevent a safe landing. The systems, therefore, have critical areas that are required to be free of cars, pedestrians and other similiar-sized objects when the systems are in use. Perimeter Road has two areas that cross directly into these critical areas. The lights serve to stop traffic (vehicle, bicycle or pedestrian) from crossing into these critical areas when aircraft are using these systems in bad weather conditions. Previous lighting systems did not work properly for a long while due to radio frequency problems, however, the lighting systems are now fully functional and the air traffic control tower has remote control of these traffic lights. Air traffic controllers will only turn them on in certain bad weather conditions when an aircraft is using the precision-approach landing system. A flashing red light means that the system is in use and to stop and wait until the flashing light turns off. If you are using Perimeter Road for any reason, please obey these traffic lights and help our flyers! If you have any questions regarding the system and its operation, call the airfield operations flight at 722-3505. If the system appears to be malfunctioning, call airfield management at 722-4097.