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Runway Lighting for Safe Night Landings

Flying at night introduces unique challenges, particularly during landing. Unlike daytime landings, which rely on visible runway markings and surrounding terrain, nighttime landings depend on runway lighting for guidance. Understanding these lights is crucial for ensuring safe and precise landings, especially in low-light or reduced visibility conditions. Runway lights act as critical visual references, replacing markings that may not be visible at night. They define the runway’s edges, threshold, centerline, and touchdown zones, supporting smooth takeoffs, landings, and taxiing operations. Additionally, specialized lighting systems assist pilots during the approach phase, enhancing overall safety and efficiency.

Runway End Identifier Lights (REILs) consist of two synchronized flashing lights positioned at the runway threshold. These lights help pilots quickly identify the start of the runway, especially in situations where it blends into the surrounding landscape, bright city lights create distractions, or adverse weather reduces visibility. Runway edge lights outline the runway boundaries and vary in intensity depending on airport requirements. Large airports typically use high-intensity runway lights (HIRL), whereas smaller airports utilize medium (MIRL) or low-intensity (LIRL) lights. Instrument approach runways feature yellow edge lights for the last 2,000 feet or the final half of the remaining runway, marking it as a caution zone. The end of the runway is indicated by a row of red lights. Runway centerline lights are placed along the middle of the runway at 50-foot intervals and change color to indicate remaining runway length. White lights extend to the last 3,000 feet, then alternate between red and white until the final 1,000 feet, where they turn completely red to signal the runway’s end. Threshold lights mark the beginning of the designated landing area with green lights, helping pilots align with the correct touchdown point. If a displaced threshold exists, these lights ensure proper landing alignment. Touchdown Zone Lights (TDZLs) consist of rows of white lights on either side of the centerline, extending up to 3,000 feet from the threshold or half the runway’s length, guiding pilots for precise landings.

To distinguish between runways and taxiways, airports use different colored lighting. Blue lights define taxiway edges, while green lights mark the taxiway centerline. At runway entry and exit points, alternating yellow and green lights alert pilots as they approach active runways. Recognizing these lighting colors is essential for safe airport navigation. White lights are exclusively used for runways, while red lights indicate the end of the runway or limited remaining distance. Blue identifies taxiway edges, and green highlights the runway threshold or taxiway centerline. Yellow lights appear near the runway’s end, cautioning pilots about limited available runway length.

Approach Lighting Systems (ALS) provide visual guidance for transitioning from instrument flight to a visual landing. These systems improve runway visibility in low-light conditions, sometimes featuring sequenced flashing lights that simulate a moving ball of light guiding pilots toward the runway. The Visual Approach Slope Indicator (VASI) helps maintain a proper glide path during landing, using red and white lights in two or three rows. A "white over white" indication means the aircraft is too high, "red over white" signals a correct glide path, and "red over red" warns the pilot of being too low. The Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) is a refined version of VASI, using two or four horizontally arranged lights to provide more precise descent guidance for safe landings.