An airport's rotating beacon operated during daylight hours indicates

• A. That weather at the airport located in class D airspace is below basic VFR weather minimums
• B. That the weather is VFR
• C. That the beacon is damaged
• D. That the wind is calm

Answer: (A)

A rotating beacon being on during daylight is a signal that the weather at that airport is below basic VFR minimums. Normally beacons operate from sunset to sunrise to mark an airport; seeing one lit in daylight serves as a warning to pilots that visibility or cloud ceilings aren’t sufficient for standard VFR flight. It’s a cue to check current weather data and not rely on VFR for navigation or flight planning. It doesn’t indicate calm winds, nor does it mean the beacon is damaged. It also isn’t a statement that the weather is VFR; rather, the opposite.