Airport lights dimmed?
Dec 6, 2008, 12:21 pm
#1
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Airport lights dimmed?
I've noticed this on my last few trips. When flying over airports, I noticed that the lights (runways, taxiways, etc) have disappeared from the air. Even when looking straight on, they appeared to be very dim.
For example, when we were flying over IAD, no runways were apparent. I could see the planes on the runways taking off and landing, but that was it. Same thing at SLC when we flew by on our approach.
In previous years, I noticed that at least the runway lights were quite visible from the air. Have they dimmed the lights to save energy? It made me wonder how the pilots are able to make visual approaches at night when the runways seem barely visible.
Anyone know?
Super
For example, when we were flying over IAD, no runways were apparent. I could see the planes on the runways taking off and landing, but that was it. Same thing at SLC when we flew by on our approach.
In previous years, I noticed that at least the runway lights were quite visible from the air. Have they dimmed the lights to save energy? It made me wonder how the pilots are able to make visual approaches at night when the runways seem barely visible.
Anyone know?
Super
Dec 6, 2008, 4:15 pm
#2
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since you're part of the "ua fold" 
, maybe you could ask a moderator to move this to the pilot q&a thread for perhaps a better response?
, maybe you could ask a moderator to move this to the pilot q&a thread for perhaps a better response?
Dec 6, 2008, 4:26 pm
#3
formerly Marwanie
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Could be due to it being used more for ILS approaches where the lights aren't so necessary? (Sorry if I'm completely off, but from my limited knowledge of aeroplanes that's all I can think of)
Dec 6, 2008, 6:04 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Palm Coast, FL (DAB) USA
Posts: 242
I've noticed this on my last few trips. When flying over airports, I noticed that the lights (runways, taxiways, etc) have disappeared from the air. Even when looking straight on, they appeared to be very dim.
For example, when we were flying over IAD, no runways were apparent. I could see the planes on the runways taking off and landing, but that was it. Same thing at SLC when we flew by on our approach.
In previous years, I noticed that at least the runway lights were quite visible from the air. Have they dimmed the lights to save energy? It made me wonder how the pilots are able to make visual approaches at night when the runways seem barely visible.
Anyone know?
Super
For example, when we were flying over IAD, no runways were apparent. I could see the planes on the runways taking off and landing, but that was it. Same thing at SLC when we flew by on our approach.
In previous years, I noticed that at least the runway lights were quite visible from the air. Have they dimmed the lights to save energy? It made me wonder how the pilots are able to make visual approaches at night when the runways seem barely visible.
Anyone know?
Super
. First, nothing has changed over the past several years on airfield light intensity. The FAA makes recommendations, and they are pretty much followed religiously. To not follow the recommendations, and have an incident caused by poor lighting would be a big liability.That said, most airfield lighting is designed for "side emitting" characteristics. The effective light energy is directed toward the aircraft, and not out of the top. This is especially true with LED based lighting, where the lens/prism assembly is designed to allow all of the available light energy to be directed to where it is needed the most.
So, if you were truely flying directly over the airfield, it would appear dim. But, from the pilots point of view, it should look fine!
Dec 7, 2008, 3:05 pm
#5
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That's completely normal. The lights are kept low when the visibility is good unless a pilot requests that they be turned up. They're also directional so they almost disappear when you're not lined up with the runway. When the visibility drops the intensity of the lights is increased.
