What action will Air Traffic Controllers take if radio communication fails and exit is required?

Air Traffic Controllers will flash the runway edge lights to communicate important information to pilots when radio communication fails. This visual cue serves as a standard procedure to assist pilots in understanding that they need to exit the runway or take specific actions to ensure safety. The flashing lights can convey urgency and alert pilots to the potential need for immediate decisions regarding their operations.

The use of visual signals, such as the runway edge lights, is essential particularly in situations where auditory communication is compromised. It provides a clear and recognizable indication of instructions that does not rely on radio transmission, which might be unreliable at that moment.

Other options, while they may be associated with emergency situations, are not standard procedures established for the situation described. For example, warning sirens and smoke signals are not typically employed in aviation communication for directing aircraft. Visual flag signals are more commonly used for ground crew communications rather than airborne instructions. Thus, flashing runway edge lights is the established method for conveying urgent messages to pilots during a radio communication failure.