Airport Runway Approach Lights

The airport facilities directory a fd and instrument approach charts identify the type of runway lighting available for each runway and how to activate the lighting system.

Airport runway approach lights.

Precision approach path indicator lighting papi faa l 880 l 881 medium intensity approach lighting system with runway alignment indicator lights malsr alsf i dual mode alsf ii ssalr ssal approach lighting systems. Als usually serves a runway that has an instrument approach procedure iap associated with it and allows the pilot to visually identify the runway environment. Be sure to check notams to ensure that the lighting system is operational because inoperative lighting systems may require higher instrument approach minimums. Flying at night is difficult however understanding the runway lighting system for your airport is a key to staying safe.

The visual approach slope indicator vasi is a system of lights on the side of an airport runway threshold that provides visual descent guidance information during approach. An approach lighting system or als is a lighting system installed on the approach end of an airport runway and consisting of a series of lightbars strobe lights or a combination of the two that extends outward from the runway end. The malsr consisting of a combination of threshold lamps steady burning light bars and flashers provides. Approach lights navigation aids.

Touchdown zone lights are installed on some precision approach runways to indicate the touchdown zone when landing in reduced visibility conditions. On runways with both approach lighting and runway lighting runway edge lights taxiway lights etc systems the approach lighting system takes precedence for air to ground radio control over the runway lighting system which is set at a predetermined intensity step based on expected visibility conditions. These lights may be visible from up to 8 kilometres 5 0 mi during the day and up to 32 kilometres 20 mi or more at night. They consist of two rows of transverse light bars symmetrically placed across the runway centerline.

Use the approach visual approach path and runway lights at your airport and you ll stay on glide and clear of obstructions all the way to the touchdown. The malsr medium intensity approach lighting system with runway alignment indicator lights is a medium approach intensity lighting system als installed in airport runway approach zones along the extended centerline of the runway.