Approach lighting system

The approach lighting system of Bremen Airport

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. 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 and align the aircraft with the runway upon arriving at a prescribed point on an approach.

The required minimum visibility for instrument approaches is influenced by the presence and type of approach light system. In the U.S., a CAT I ILS approach without approach lights will have a minimum required visibility of 3/4 mile, or 4000 foot runway visual range. With a 1400 foot or longer approach light system, the minimum potential visibility might be reduced to 1/2 mile (2400 runway visual range), and the presence of touchdown zone and centerline lights with a suitable approach light system might further reduce the visibility to 3/8 mile (1800 feet runway visual range). The degree to which approach lights decrease visibility minimums is dependent upon a number of clearance surfaces, and whether the surfaces are penetrated by any objects.

The runway lighting is controlled by the air traffic control tower. At uncontrolled airports, Pilot Controlled Lighting may be installed which can be switched on by the pilot via radio. In both cases, the brightness of the lights can be adjusted for day and night operations.

Depth perception is inoperative at the distances usually involved in flying aircraft, and so the position and distance of a runway with respect to an aircraft must be judged by a pilot using only two-dimensional cues such as perspective, as well as angular size and movement within the visual field. Approach lighting systems provide additional cues that bear a known relationship to the runway itself and help pilots to judge distance and alignment for landing.

Decision bar

All approach Lighting Systems in the United States utilize a feature called the Decision Bar. The Decision Bar is always located 1000' from the threshold, and it serves as a visible horizon to ease the transition from instrument flight to visual flight.

Approach Light Systems are designed to allow the pilot to quickly and positively identify visibility distances in Instrument meteorological conditions. For example, if the aircraft is at the Middle Marker, and the Middle Marker is located 3600' from the threshold, the Decision Bar is 2600' ahead. If the procedure calls for at least ½ statute mile flight visibility (roughly 2600'), spotting the Decision Bar at the marker would indicate enough flight visibility to continue the procedure. In addition, the shorter bars before and after the Decision Bar are spaced either 100' or 200' apart depending on the ALS type. The number of short bars the pilot can see can be used to determine flight visibility. Approaches with lower minimums use the more precise 100' spacing systems for more accurate identification of visibility.^[1]

Configurations

Several ALS configurations are recognized by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO); however, non-standard ALS configurations are installed at some airports. Typically, approach lighting systems are of high-intensity. Many approach lighting systems are also complemented by various on-runway light systems, such as Runway End Identifier Lights (REIL), Touchdown Zone Lights (TDZL), and High Intensity Runway Lights (HIRL). The most common approach light system configurations include:

• MALSR: Medium-intensity Approach Lighting System with Runway Alignment Indicator Lights
• MALSF: Medium-intensity Approach Lighting System with Sequenced Flashing lights
• SALS: Simple Approach Lighting System
• SSALS: Simplified Short Approach Lighting System
• SSALR: Simplified Short Approach Lighting System with Runway Alignment Indicator Lights
• SSALF: Simplified Short Approach Lighting System with Sequenced Flashing Lights
• ODALS: Omnidirectional Approach Lighting System
• ALSF-1: Approach Lighting System with Sequenced Flashing Lights configuration 1
• ALSF-2: Approach Lighting System with Sequenced Flashing Lights configuration 2
• CALVERT I/ICAO-1 HIALS: ICAO-compliant configuration 1 High Intensity Approach Lighting System
• CALVERT II/ICAO-2 HIALS: ICAO-compliant configuration 2 High Intensity Approach Lighting System
• LDIN: Lead-in lighting
• REIL: Runway End Identification Lights
• RAIL: Runway Alignment Indicator Lights

In configurations that include sequenced flashing lights, the lights are typically strobes mounted in front of the runway on its extended centerline. These lights flash in sequence, usually at a speed of two consecutive sequences per second, beginning with the light most distant from the runway and ending at the Decision Bar. RAIL are similar to sequenced flashing lights except that they end where the white approach light bars begin. Sequenced flashing lights and RAIL do not extend past the Decision Bar to avoid distracting the pilot during the critical phase of transiting from instrument to visual flight.^[1] Sequenced flashing lights are sometimes referred to colloquially as the rabbit or the running rabbit.^[2]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Rod Machado, Rod Machado's Instrument Pilot's Survival Manual, Second Edition, Chapter 16
2. ^ Instrument Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-15), (United States) Federal Aviation Administration

See also

• Instrument Landing System
• Precision Approach Path Indicator
• Visual Approach Slope Indicator