![]() Elevated runway guard lights consist of a pair of elevated flashing yellow lights installed on each side of the runway holding position marking. There are two types of runway guard lights, elevated and in-pavement. The alternating green and yellow taxiway centerline marking is one such example. Much like airport markings, the advancement in airport lighting has focused on making taxiway/runway intersections more conspicuous to prevent runway incursions. In those areas where the taxiway centerline leads on/off a runway or into an instrument landing system critical area, the taxiway centerline alternates between green and yellow, beginning from one light beyond the runway holding position marking to the runway centerline. The frequency of the centerline lights depends on the curvature of the taxiway. Taxiway centerline lights emit a steady green light and are logically located along the taxiway centerline. As an economical alternative, some airports may use blue reflectors in lieu of or to augment taxiway edge lights. ![]() On curves, taxiway edge lights may be spaced more closely together. In straight sections, taxiway edge lights are typically spaced between 50 and 100 feet depending on the length of the straight section. ![]() Taxiway edge lights are located parallel to the taxiway centerline, not more than 10 feet from the edge of the usable taxiway. Much like their runway counterparts, taxiway edge lights are used to outline the edges of taxiways and aprons. The two columns of lights extend for one-half the runway length or 3,000 feet, whichever is less. These lights consist of two symmetrical columns of light bars emitting white light and spaced on each side of the runway centerline. Touchdown zone lights are installed on some precision approach runways to indicate the touchdown zone during landing. Alternating red and white lights are installed 3,000 feet from the runway end, while all red centerline lights are installed for the last 1,000 feet. Much like the runway edge lights, centerline lights also change color to warn pilots of the impending runway end. White centerline lights are installed at 50-foot intervals along the runway centerline to help pilots with alignment during approach, landing and takeoff. To do so, a green light is emitted outward from the runway for arriving aircraft, while a red light is emitted toward the runway to indicate the end of the runway for departing aircraft. Runway threshold/end lights are used to identify the runway threshold/end. Runway edge lights emit white light however, on a runway with an instrument approach, runway edge lights emit a yellow light to notify pilots they are approaching the runway end for the last 2,000 feet or last half of the runway, whichever is less. These lights are offset from the physical edge of the runway pavement by 10 feet for runways serving jet aircraft, and 2 feet for other runways. Runway edge lights are designed to help pilots distinguish the edge of the runway. LIRL systems on the other hand usually only have a single intensity setting. HIRL and MIRL systems have variable intensity controls, typically controlled by air traffic control (ATC) or the pilot using a radio control system. To start, runway lighting systems are classified as high, medium or low intensity runway lights or HIRL, MIRL, and LIRL respectively. Watch for the next issue of Midwest Flyer Magazine for a review of the remaining airport lights in what will be the final article in this series on airport navigation aids. This article will cover the various runway lights, taxiway lights, and runway status lights. For those of us who have the luxury of flying primarily on sunny days, a review of airport lights may then be helpful. Unless you regularly find yourself flying into large airports at night or during inclement weather, chances are there are a number of airport lights you’ve heard of, but never seen in person. Published in Midwest Flyer – August/September 2017 issue
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