How do you activate airport runway lights?

Pilot-Controlled Lighting Within a five-mile radius of the airport, pilots activate PCL by keying the microphone button with the radio tuned to Unicom frequency. Once activated, the lights remain illuminated for 15 minutes.

Can pilots control runway lights?

Control of Lighting Systems Operation of approach light systems and runway lighting is controlled by the control tower (ATCT). At some locations the FSS may control the lights where there is no control tower in operation. Pilots may request that lights be turned on or off.

How does PAPI lights work?

How do PAPI lights work? The typical PAPI light system consists of four lights. Within this system, each light consists of a red filter and two lenses. They’re then calibrated to a specific angle, meaning pilots will see a different colour depending on the angle of their approach.

Are runway lights always on?

They are typically on a 10 or 15 minute timer. If you turn them on to far out and forget about it they may shut off on short final… Larger towered airports may keep some lights on and allow you to request others be turned on or off. This is only applicable if the tower is in operation.

Are runway edge lights required at night?

All runways licensed for night use must have lighting which at least defines the extent of the runway. This is referred to as Edge Lighting, Threshold Lighting and Runway End Lighting. Other types of lighting may also be provided.

How far apart are runway edge lights?

Runway Edge Light Spacing and Color Both High Intensity Runway Lights (HIRLs) and Medium Intensity Runway Lights (MIRLs) require a maximum spacing of 200 feet between each runway edge light. For runways with intersecting taxiways or other runways, the maximum gap cannot exceed 400 feet.

What do the blue lights on a runway mean?

The blue taxi lights are easy to spot from the terminal and are often the first airport lights seen by passengers. Blue taxiway lights are typically illuminated after dark and during bad weather. For many airports, the blue lights are all that is necessary to mark the taxiways.

How far out is a PAPI good?

These lights are visible from about 5 miles during the day and up to 20 miles at night. The visual glide path of the PAPI typically provides safe obstruction clearance within plus or minus 10 degrees of the extended runway centerline and to 3.4 NM from the runway threshold.

What is Papilight?

PAPI (precision approach path indicator) lights are a set of lights positioned beside the runway which provide pilots with a visual indicator of their aircraft’s position relative to the correct glidepath for the runway. Two of each shows the pilot is on the correct path for landing.

What kind of runway lighting do airports use?

Airports with non-precision runways usually install a simple runway lighting system that includes runway edge lights, PAPI lights, runway threshold end lights, and taxiway lights.

How do you turn the lights on and off on a runway?

To change the lighting intensity, or to turn lights on or off, simply ask the tower controller. Typically, the rows of lights that mark the ends of a runway are bi-directional. As you approach the runway from the air, these lights appear green to indicate the beginning of the runway.

When is remote ON-OFF switching required on the runway in use?

VASI systems with remote on-off switching must be operated when they serve the runway in use and where intensities are controlled in accordance with TBL 3-4-2 and TBL 3-4-3 except: As required by facility directives to meet local conditions. As required by the pilot. Day-Sunrise to sunset. Night-Sunset to sunrise. Day-Sunrise to sunset.

Do you have to turn the lights on when landing at night?

However, 14 CFR Part 135 operators are required to land/takeoff on lighted runways/heliport landing areas at night. Do not turn on the runway edge lights when a NOTAM closing the runway is in effect.