A precision approach path indicator (PAPI) is a visual aid that provides guidance information to help a pilot to acquire and maintain the correct approach (in the vertical plane) to an airport or an aerodrome. It is generally located on the left-hand side of the runway approximately 300 meters beyond the landing threshold of the runway. Development The precision approach path indicator system was first devised in 1974 by Tony Smith and David Johnson at the Royal Aircraft Establishment in Bedford, England. It took them a further two years to fully develop the technology. Smith and Johnson's work was honoured by a commendation from the RAE, a Fellowship from the Aeronautical Society, an award from the American Flight Safety Foundation, and a Gold Medal from the British Guild of Air Pilots. Engineering firm Research Engineers (RE) were also heavily involved in the project, having produced and supplied PAPI units for the first trials that were conducted. The same design is still in use today, and in fact was used by NASA's Space Shuttle for its safe landing, for which Johnson was interviewed by UK local news media and TV. Meaning The ratio of white to red lights seen is dependent on the angle of approach to the runway. Above the designated glide slope a pilot will observe more white lights than red; at approaches below the ideal angle more red lights than white will be seen. For the optimum approach angle the ratio of white to red lights will remain equal throughout, for most aircraft, the exceptions being the Boeing 747 and now retired Concorde. With the 747, because the cockpit is approximately 20 feet behind the nose and much higher than other aircraft, the flight crew in a 747 will typically see one red and three white lights when they are on the glide slope. The aircrew of Concorde would see four white lights as the Concorde's approach angle was higher than traditional aircraft. Background The greater number of red lights visible compared with the number of white lights visible in the picture means that the aircraft is flying below the glide slope. To use the guidance information provided by the aid to follow the correct glide slope a pilot would manoeuvre the aircraft to obtain an equal number of red and white lights. Student pilots in initial training may use the mnemonic WHITE on WHITE - "Check your