How is the NATO T oriented (distances)?

• A. Five lights in the shape of a T, all 10m apart
• B. Five lights in the shape of a T, all 7m apart
• C. Five lights in the shape of a T, all 12m apart
• D. Five lights in the shape of a T, all 10m apart

Answer: (D)

The NATO T marking is a five-light pattern used to cue pilots for a landing or pickup zone at night. It’s laid out as a T-shaped arrangement with equal spacing between all adjacent lights, specifically 10 meters apart. This uniform 10-meter spacing makes the pattern large enough to be recognized from approach distance yet practical for typical LZ sizes, providing clear lateral and longitudinal cues for alignment. The horizontal top bar consists of three lights, with a vertical stem of two lights centered beneath it, forming the T. Using 10 meters between lights ensures consistency across operations; other spacings would be harder to read quickly and could either be too cramped or too large for effective use.