Section 4. Airport Lighting

3-4-1. EMERGENCY LIGHTING

Whenever you become aware that an emergency has or will occur, take action to provide for the operation of all appropriate airport lighting aids as required.

3-4-2. RUNWAY END IDENTIFIER LIGHTS (REIL)

When separate on-off controls are provided, operate runway end identifier lights:

  1. When the associated runway lights are lighted. Turn the REIL off after:
    1. An arriving aircraft has landed.
    2. A departing aircraft has left the traffic pattern area.
    3. It is determined that the lights are of no further use to the pilot.
  2. As required by facility directives to meet local conditions.
  3. As requested by the pilot.
  4. Operate intensity setting in accordance with the values in TBL 3-4-1 except as prescribed in subparagraphs b and c above.

    TBL 3-4-1
    REIL Intensity Setting-Three Step System

    Settings

    Visibility

    Day

    Night

    3

    Less than 2 miles

    Less than 1 mile

    2

    2 to 5 miles inclusive

    1 to but not including 3 miles

    1

    When requested

    3 miles or more

3-4-3. VISUAL APPROACH SLOPE INDICATORS (VASI)

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:

  1. As required by facility directives to meet local conditions.
  2. As required by the pilot.

    TBL 3-4-2
    VASI Intensity Setting-Two Step System

    Step

    Period/Condition

    High

    Day-Sunrise to sunset.

    Low

    Night-Sunset to sunrise.

    TBL 3-4-3
    VASI Intensity Setting-Three Step System

    Step

    Period/Condition

    High

    Day-Sunrise to sunset.

    Medium

    Twilight-From sunset to 30 minutes after sunset and from 30 minutes before sunrise to sunrise,* and during twilight in Alaska.

    Low

    Night-Sunset to sunrise.

    *During a 1 year period, twilight may vary 26 to 43 minutes between 25 and 49N latitude.

3-4-4. PRECISION APPROACH PATH INDICATORS (PAPI)

PAPI 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 3-4-4 except:

  1. As required by local facility directives to meet local conditions.
  2. As requested by the pilot.

    TBL 3-4-4
    PAPI Intensity Setting - Five Step System

    Step

    Period/Condition

    5

    On Pilot Request

    4

    Day - Sunrise to sunset

    3

    Night - Sunset to sunrise

    2

    On Pilot Request

    1

    On Pilot Request

    *During a 1 year period, twilight may vary 26 to 43 minutes between 25 and 49N latitude.

3-4-5. APPROACH LIGHTS

Operate approach lights:

  1. Between sunset and sunrise when one of the following conditions exists:
    1. They serve the landing runway.
    2. They serve a runway to which an approach is being made but aircraft will land on another runway.
  2. Between sunrise and sunset when the ceiling is less than 1,000 feet or the prevailing visibility is 5 miles or less and approaches are being made to:
    1. A landing runway served by the lights.
    2. A runway served by the lights but aircraft are landing on another runway.
    3. The airport, but landing will be made on a runway served by the lights.
  3. As requested by the pilot.
  4. As you deem necessary, if not contrary to pilot's request.

3-4-6. ALS INTENSITY SETTINGS

When operating ALS as prescribed in paragraph 3-4-5, Approach Lights, operate intensity controls in accordance with the values in TBL 3-4-5 except:

  1. When facility directives specify other settings to meet local atmospheric, topographic, and twilight conditions.
  2. As requested by the pilot.
  3. As you deem necessary, if not contrary to pilot's request.

    TBL 3-4-5
    ALS Intensity Setting


    Step

    Visibility
    (Applicable to runway served by lights)

    Day

    Night

    5

    Less than 1 mile*

    When requested

    4

    1 to but not including 3 miles

    When requested

    3

    3 to but not including 5 miles

    Less than 1 mile*

    2

    5 to but not including 7 miles

    1 to 3 miles inclusive

    1

    When requested

    Greater than 3 miles

    *and/or 6,000 feet or less of the RVR on the runway served by the ALS and RVR.

3-4-7. SEQUENCED FLASHING LIGHTS (SFL)

Operate Sequenced Flashing Lights:

  1. When the visibility is less than 3 miles and instrument approaches are being made to the runway served by the associated ALS.
  2. As requested by the pilot.
  3. As you deem necessary, if not contrary to pilot's request.

3-4-8. MALSR/ODALS

Operate MALSR/ODALS that have separate on-off and intensity setting controls in accordance with TBL 3-4-6 and TBL 3-4-7 except:

  1. When facility directives specify other settings to meet local atmospheric, topographic, and twilight conditions.
  2. As requested by the pilot.
  3. As you deem necessary, if not contrary to pilot's request.

    TBL 3-4-6
    Two Step MALS/One Step RAIL/Two Step ODALS

    Settings

    Visibility

    Day

    Night

    MALS/ODALS RAIL

    Hi On

    Less than
    3 miles

    Less than
    3 miles

    MALS/ODALS RAIL

    Low

    Off

    When requested

    3 miles or more

    *At locations providing part‐time control tower service, if duplicate controls are not provided in the associated FSS, the MALSR/ODALS must be set to low intensity during the hours of darkness when the tower is not staffed.

    TBL 3-4-7
    Three Step MALS/Three Step RAIL/Three Step ODALS

    Settings

    Visibility

    Day

    Night

    3

    Less than 2 miles

    Less than 1 mile

    2

    2 to 5 miles inclusive

    1 to but not including 3 miles*

    1

    When requested

    3 miles or more

    *At locations providing part‐time control tower service, if duplicate controls are not provided in the FSS on the airport, the air‐to‐ground radio link must be activated during the hours of darkness when the tower is unmanned. If there is no radio air‐to‐ground control, the MALSR/ODALS must be set on intensity setting 2 during the hours of darkness when the tower is not staffed.

3-4-9. ALSF-2/SSALR

  1. When the prevailing visibility is 3/4 mile or less or the RVR is 4,000 feet or less, operate the ALSF-2 system as follows:
    1. As requested by the pilot.
    2. As you deem necessary if not contrary to pilot request.
  2. Operate the SSALR system when the conditions in subparagraph a are not a factor.

3-4-10. RUNWAY EDGE LIGHTS

Operate the runway edge light system/s serving the runway/s in use as follows:

  1. 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:
      1. IFR aircraft-Before the aircraft begins final approach, or
      2. VFR aircraft-Before the aircraft enters the Class B, Class C, or Class D surface area, and
      3. Until the aircraft has taxied off the landing runway.
  2. Between sunrise and sunset, turn the lights on as shown in subparagraphs a1 and a2 when the surface visibility is less than 2 miles.
  3. As required by facility directives to meet local conditions.
  4. Different from subparagraphs 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.
  5. Do not turn on the runway edge lights when a NOTAM closing the runway is in effect.

3-4-11. HIGH INTENSITY RUNWAY, RUNWAY CENTERLINE, AND TOUCHDOWN ZONE LIGHTS

Operate high intensity runway and associated runway centerline and touchdown zone lights in accordance with TBL 3-4-8, except:

  1. Where a facility directive specifies other settings to meet local conditions.
  2. As requested by the pilot.
  3. As you deem necessary, if not contrary to pilot request.

    TBL 3-4-8
    HIRL, RCLS, TDZL Intensity Setting

    Step

    Visibility

    Day

    Night

    5

    Less than 1 mile*

    When requested

    4

    1 to but not including
    2 miles*

    Less than 1 mile*

    3

    2 to but not including
    3 miles

    1 to but not including
    3 miles*

    2

    When requested

    3 to 5 miles inclusive

    1

    When requested

    More than 5 miles

    *and/or appropriate RVR equivalent.

3-4-12. HIRL ASSOCIATED WITH MALSR

Operate HIRL which control the associated MALSR in accordance with TBL 3-4-9, except:

  1. As requested by the pilot.
  2. As you deem necessary, if not contrary to the pilot's request.

    TBL 3-4-9
    HIRL Associated with MALSR

    Step

    Visibility

    Day

    Night

    5

    Less than 1 mile

    When requested

    4

    1 to but not including 2 miles

    Less than 1 mile

    3

    2 to but not including 3 miles

    1 to but not including 3 miles

    2

    When requested

    3 to 5 miles inclusive

    1

    When requested

    More than 5 miles

3-4-13. HIRL CHANGES AFFECTING RVR

Keep the appropriate approach controller or PAR controller informed, in advance if possible, of HIRL changes that affect RVR.

3-4-14. MEDIUM INTENSITY RUNWAY LIGHTS (MIRL)

Operate MIRL or MIRL which control the associated MALSR in accordance with TBL 3-4-10, except:

  1. As requested by the pilot.
  2. As you deem necessary, if not contrary to the pilot's request.

    TBL 3-4-10
    MIRL Intensity Setting

    Step

    Visibility

    Day

    Night

    3

    Less than 2 miles

    Less than 1 mile

    2

    2 to 3 miles

    1 to 3 miles

    1

    When requested

    More than 3 miles

3-4-15. HIGH SPEED TURNOFF LIGHTS

Operate high speed turnoff lights:

  1. Whenever the associated runway lights are used for arriving aircraft. Leave them on until the aircraft has either entered a taxiway or passed the last light.
  2. As required by facility directives to meet local conditions.
  3. As requested by the pilot.

3-4-16. TAXIWAY LIGHTS

Operate taxiway lights in accordance with TBL 3-4-11, TBL 3-4-12, or TBL 3-4-13 except:

  1. Where a facility directive specifies other settings or times to meet local conditions.
  2. As requested by the pilot.
  3. As you deem necessary, if not contrary to pilot request.

    TBL 3-4-11
    Three Step Taxiway Lights

    Step

    Visibility

    Day

    Night

    3

    Less than 1 mile

    When requested

    2

    When requested

    Less than 1 mile

    1

    When requested

    1 mile of more

    TBL 3-4-12
    Five Step Taxiway Lights

    Step

    Visibility

    Day

    Night

    5

    Less than 1 mile

    When requested

    4

    When requested

    Less than 1 mile

    3

    When requested

    1 mile or more

    1 & 2

    When requested

    When requested

    TBL 3-4-13
    One Step Taxiway Lights

    Day

    Night

    Less than 1 mile

    On

3-4-17. OBSTRUCTION LIGHTS

If controls are provided, turn the lights on between sunset and sunrise.

3-4-18. ROTATING BEACON

If controls are provided, turn the rotating beacon on:

  1. Between sunset and sunrise.
  2. Between sunrise and sunset when the reported ceiling or visibility is below basic VFR minima.

3-4-19. RUNWAY STATUS LIGHTS (RWSL)

TERMINAL

RWSL is equipped with automatic intensity settings and must be operated on a continuous basis except under the following conditions:

  1. If a pilot or vehicle report indicates any portion of the RWSL system is on and is not able to accept an ATC clearance; then
    1. ATC must visually scan the entire runway. If the runway is observed to be clear and the lights are still illuminated, then the lights must be turned off and clearance re-issued.
    2. If a portion of the runway is not visible from the tower, ATC must visually scan the ASDE system. If the runway is observed to be clear and the lights are still illuminated, then the lights must be turned off and clearance re-issued.
  2. When the RWSL Operational Status displays “Lost Comm with System,” consider the RWSL system out of service until checked and confirmed to be operational by technical operations personnel.
  3. Once RWSL systems are turned off, they must remain off until returned to service by technical operations personnel.
  4. Upon pilot request, adjust the light intensity.