Runway Lights

M

meritflyer

Well-Known Member
Senior moment -

What is the criteria for ATC to activate the runway lights?

For example, if vis is below X?

Time of night?

Each facility different?
 
meritflyer said:
Senior moment -

What is the criteria for ATC to activate the runway lights?

For example, if vis is below X?

Time of night?

Each facility different?
Click to expand...

Reference FAAO 7110.65T, Chapter 3, Section 4, paras. 1-19 (here). For runway edge lights --
3-4-10. RUNWAY EDGE LIGHTS
Operate the runway edge light system/s serving the
runway/s in use as follows:
a. Between sunset and sunrise, turn the lights on:
1. For departures. Before an aircraft taxies onto
the runway and until it leaves the Class B, Class C, or
Class D surface area.
2. For arrivals:
(a) IFR aircraft-Before the aircraft begins
final approach, or
(b) VFR aircraft-Before the aircraft enters
the Class B, Class C, or Class D surface area, and
(c) Until the aircraft has taxied off the landing
runway.
b. Between sunrise and sunset, turn the lights on as
shown in subparas a1 and a2 when the surface
visibility is less than 2 miles.
c. As required by facility directives to meet local
conditions.
d. Different from subparas a, b, or c above, when:
1. You consider it necessary, or
2. Requested by a pilot and no other known
aircraft will be adversely affected.
Click to expand...

HIRL, REIL, MIRL, CL and TDZL have their own tables on when they should be operated. The long and the short of it is, they do have to operate the lights upon request from a pilot.
 
Crockrocket94 said:
Do the runway lights have to be on if it is IFR out? I know the beacon is, but how about taxi lights and Edgelights?
Click to expand...

The operation of the airport beacon between sunrise and sunset at controlled (B, C, D) airports generally indicates IFR conditions on the field. Some airport beacons are not equipped with manual or tower-accessible controls, and will not necessarily be operated when the weather is cruddy.

Taxiway lights will generally be operated when IFR conditions prevail, or upon pilot request (7110.65T, 3-4-17). Unless otherwise specified by local facility directives, multiple intensity taxiway lights have specific brightness to be selected by the tower depending on day, night, visibility, while single intensity taxiway lights are operated at all times at night and during the day when visibility is less than one mile.
 
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