Definition
A coloured pyrotechnic flare fired from a special pistol, used as a visual signal between aircraft and ground stations when radio communication is not available. The colour and pattern of the flare convey a specific pre-arranged meaning, such as instructions to land, hold, or clear the runway.
Plain English
A coloured flare shot from a flare gun, used to send a visual signal when radios cannot be used. Each colour means something specific.
Context Anchor
Seen in older aviation references, emergency signaling, and airport or military procedures that discuss visual signals instead of radio communication.
Derivation
Named after Edward Wilson Very, a 19th-century U.S. Navy officer who invented the flare cartridge and pistol system. The term is a person's name, not a description, which is why it is capitalised.
Why Pilots Care
Provides a reliable backup method to signal distress or intentions when electrical systems or radios have failed.
Intuition Check
Do not read “Very” as the everyday word meaning “extremely.” Here, “Very” is a name, and a Very Signal is a flare-type visual signal.
Example Sentence 1
When the aircraft's radio failed, the crew watched for a Very signal from the control tower to confirm they were cleared to land.
Example Sentence 2
Before radios became common, pilots used Very signals to communicate with ground crews during night operations.