Airfield Lighting

Question 1

incandescent lighting

Answer 1

the oldest lamp type. longevity based on temp generated. the higher the lumen, the shorter the life span

Question 2

tungsten-halogen lighting

Answer 2

variation of incandescing lamps. commonly called “quartz lamps”. produce a hotter filament, and the quartz lens is better able to withstand the heat. longer lift, but very sensitive to temperature variation and lens contamination

Question 3

florescent lighting

Answer 3

generated through low pressure gas discharge. use for lighting of airfield signs. used only at airports where low ambient temperatures are not routinely experienced.

Question 4

Light emitting diode (LED)

Answer 4

brighter emanating light, has a longer lamp lift, and has lower power consumption. they do not generate heat to melt snow or ice accumulation. they may present a different color in perceived color or brightness than equivalent glass or plastic filtered incandescent fixtures. They should not be interspersed with incandescent

Question 5

airfield lighting categories

Answer 5

runway and taxiway edge lighting systems, runway centerline and touchdown lighting systems, taxiway lighting systems, land and hold short lighting systems, miscellaneous airfield aids, approach lighting

Question 6

runway lighting steps and wattage

Answer 6

steps 1-3. intensity of 15, 25, and 40 watts
steps 1-5 range of 15-200 watts. steps 4 and 5 are reserved for IFR conditions

Question 7

low intensity runway lights (LIRL)

Answer 7

installed on visual runways (at small airports)

Question 8

medium intensity runway lights (MIRL)

Answer 8

installed on visual runways or non-precision instrument runways

Question 9

high intensity runway lights (HIRL)

Answer 9

installed on precision instrument runways

Question 10

Medium intensity taxiway lights (MITL)

Answer 10

installed on taxiways and aprons at airports where runway lighting systems are installed

Question 11

Runway Edge Lights

Answer 11

may be low, medium, or high. Medium and high emit while light except for the last 2,000ft. Then it is the caution zone with yellow lights . the lights are located parallel to the runway centerline at least 2ft but no more than 10ft from the edge of the full-strength pavement. longitudinal spacing should not exceed 200ft

Question 12

threshold and runway end lights

Answer 12

designed to signify the runway threshold. threshold emits green light. runway end emits red light. the outermost light in each group is in line with the runway end lights. the other lights in the group are located on 10ft centers toward the extended runway centerline. visual runways must have 3 on each side. precision and non-precision must have 4 lights on each side

Question 13

stop way edge lights

Answer 13

unidirectional red lights oriented toward the takeoff direction of the runway. placed along the full length of the stop way. spacing and location are the same as runway edge lights. must also be placed at the end of the stop way, same rues as threshold and end lights

Question 14

runway centerline lighting

Answer 14

required for CAT II and III runways, and CAT I used for landing bellow 2,400 RVR. required on runways used for takeoff operations below 1,600 RVR. recommended for CAT I runways greater than 170ft wide or when used by aircraft with approach speeds over 140kts.

white, located along the runway centerline every 50ft. may be uniformly offset by 2.5ft. the last 3,000ft to 1,000ft color coded red and white. last 1,000ft red

Question 15

Touchdown zone lighting

Answer 15

2 rows of transverse light bars located symmetrically about the runway centerline. each bar has 3 unidirectional lights. touchdown zone lights extend 3,000ft or one-half the runway length for runways less than 6,000ft. the first light bars are located 100ft from the threshold

Question 16

LAHSO lighting systems

Answer 16

consist of a row of six or seven in-pavement unidirectional pulsing white lights installed across the runway at the hold-short point

Question 17

taxiway edge lighting

Answer 17

blue, not more than 10ft outward form the edge of the full-strength pavement. the spacing is based on taxiway configuration

Question 18

taxiway edge reflectors

Answer 18

may be installed in lieu of taxiway edge lights or to enhance edge lights. reflectors are permitted in lieu of edge lights where a centerline system is installed

Question 19

taxiway lighting system

Answer 19

such as taxiway centerline, RGLs, stop bars, and clearance bars are designed to facilitate taxiing and may be required during low visibility conditions

Question 20

taxiway centerline lights

Answer 20

green lights unidirectional or bidirectional in pavement installed parallel to the centerline of a taxiway. lead-off lights are alternating green and yellow from the runway centerline to the taxiway centerline

Question 21

stop bars

Answer 21

give a stop signal when approaching a runway with a row of unidirectional in-pavement red lights and an elevated red light on each side of the taxiway. in low vis conditions the are used to permit access to the active runway. they are required for operations below 600ft RVR on illuminated taxiway that provide access to the active runways

Question 22

clearance bars

Answer 22

designed to advise pilots and vehicle drivers that they are approaching a hold point other than a runway, or that they are approaching an intersecting taxiway. consist of a row of three in-pavement yellow lights to indicate a low visibility hold point

Question 23

Runway status lighting system (RWSL)

Answer 23

used to reduce the number and severity of runway incursions. they indicate the runway status only, not clearance. the system uses computer processing of integrated surface and terminal surveillance information to establish the presence and motion of aircraft and surface vehicles on or near the runway. It illuminates red RELs if the runway is unsafe for entry or crossing and illuminates red THLs if the runway is unsafe for departure. they system extinguishes automatically as appropriate when the runway is no longer unsafe

Question 24

Instrument Approach Lighting

Answer 24

designed to facilitate the pilot’s transition from instrument to the runway. consist of:
sequence flashing lights, approach lights, crossbar lights, runway end identifier lights (REIL), visual slope indicators (VASI), or precision approach path indicators (PAPI)

Question 25

sequence flashing lights/ runway alignment indicator lights (RAIL)

Answer 25

they are a series of five lights that extend past the 1,000ft mark of the approach lights. flashing in sequence in one direction to lead you in, the “rabbit”

Question 26

Approach lights

Answer 26

uniformly extending lights from the threshold in order to make the transition in flight. types are:
ALSF-1, ALSF-2, short simplified approach lighting system (SSALS)

Question 27

ALSF-1

Answer 27

high intensity approach lighting system with sequenced flashing lights - required for ILS CAT I

Question 28

ALSF-2

Answer 28

high intensity approach lighting system with sequenced flashing lights. consists of 247 steady burling lights, including green threshold lights (49) red side row bar laps (9 rows, 54 lamps), and and high intensity steady burling white lights (144). plus 15 flashing lights. the lights are spaced at 100ft intervals from the runway threshold outward to 2400ft

Question 29

Short Simplified Approach Lighting System (SSALS)

Answer 29

used for ILS CAT I.

Question 30

crossbar lights

Answer 30

a series of lights positioned perpendicular on both sides of the primary approach lights. Used by pilots as a visual aid to align the wings

Question 31

economy aids for approach lighting

Answer 31

MALSF or MALSR, omni-directional approach lighting systems (ODALS), runway end identifier lights (REILS), visual approach slope indicator (VASI), precision approach path indicator (PAPI)

Question 32

Medium-Intensity Lighting System … with sequenced flashing lights or runway alignment indicators (MALSF) (MALSR)

Answer 32

allow pilots to line up with the runway and transition. Provide runway end identification and some degree of roll guidance
F: 1400ft long, 9 light bars and 5 steady burn fixtures, 5 sequence flashing lights and a threshold bar
R: 2400ft long, 18 lamps along threshold, 9 light bars of 5 every 200ft, at the 1,00ft there are three light bars for visual reference

Question 33

Omni Directional Approach Lighting System (ODALS)

Answer 33

provide visual guidance for circling, offset, and straight-line approaches to non-precision runways. Required where visible minimums is less than 1SM with a minimum paved runway of 3200ft and MIRL

seven omnidirectional strobe lights in the runway approach area. 5 alignment strove lights along the extended runway centerline beginning 300ft and are 300ft apart

Question 34

Runway end identifier lights (REIL)

Answer 34

aid in early identification of the runway and runway end. A pair of synchronized flashing lights located laterally on each side of the runway threshold. Must be installed where there is only a circling approach or and circling and non-precision straight-in approach . Optimal location is 40ft from the runway edge and in line with the existing runway threshold lights

Question 35

Precision Approach Path Indictor (PAPI)

Answer 35

visual approach slope guidance to assist pilots in flying a stabilized approach. Visual rage of approximately 5 miles during the day and 20 miles at night