Night runway lights1/23/2024 ![]() ![]() Runway centreline lights (RCLL)Ī precision approach runway may also be provided with flush centre line lights over the whole length of the runway. This landing threshold lighting is normally uni-directional green, visible from the approach direction. On non-precision approach runways the displaced threshold lighting may be provided by a wing bar display of lights outboard of the runway edges. When this occurs the runway edge lighting, between the landing threshold and the runway end lights, will be uni-directional red visible from the approach direction and uni-directional white visible from the runway. Where a landing threshold is displaced, the runway end lights may not be coincident with the threshold lighting. This lighting is normally uni-directional red, visible from the direction of the runway. It may extend across the full width of the runway or have a clear gap about the central section. Is installed across the end of the runway. This lighting is normally uni-directional green, visible from the approach direction. May extend across the full width of the runway or have a clear gap about the central section. ![]() Is normally white for the usable portion of the runway. Read the full report of the incident here.Permanently installed runway lighting consists of runway edge lights, threshold lights, and runway end lights. None of the studied excursions occurred on runways that had centreline lighting.Īs a result, the ATSB issued a safety recommendation to ICAO to review the runway lighting standards in light of the new evidence available. While studying past reports of runway side excursions in reduced visibility, ATSB investigators discovered that a disproportionate number of them occurred on wider runways. Both have advised the ATSB that the installation of centreline lighting will be considered during any future runway works. Its concerns were renewed following a 2008 hard landing though no recommendation was issued.ĭarwin Airport is a joint military and civilian facility – the Department of Defence owns much of the airport infrastructure, including the runways, while Darwin International Airport operates the civilian aspects of it. The ATSB previously recommended the installation of centreline lighting at Darwin Airport after a 2003 runway side excursion. Of the two runways wider than 50m in Australia, Darwin’s runway is the only one without centerline lighting. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) recommends, but does not mandate, the installation of centreline lighting on wider runways. “It is important for pilots and operators to be aware of any circumstances that are different to what they usually encounter and account for it in their planning so that they are more likely to avoid being ‘caught out’ at a critical time,” Mr Nagy said. In response to the ATSB investigation, both the aircraft operator and airport initiated a number of safety actions, including providing flight crews with information about the specific risks of approaches to Darwin Airport at night in conditions with reduced visibility. “In these circumstances centreline lighting greatly helps flight crews align the aircraft with the runway.” “A wide runway without centreline lighting, such as at Darwin, poses a particular challenge for aircraft making approaches in darkness and heavy rain,” ATSB Executive Director Transport Safety, Nat Nagy, said. The ATSB found that, in the absence of centreline lighting, this characteristic affected the crew’s ability to detect and correct the aircraft’s deviation. The two rows of lights alongside runway 29 at Darwin are further apart than what a flight crew would normally encounter, due to the relatively wide runway. The ATSB found that a relatively small increase in crosswind had occurred at a critical time a few seconds before touchdown, and the crew were not aware how far the aircraft had deviated. There were no injuries and only minor damage to the aircraft. The aircraft continued to the side of the runway, and its right landing gear ran just off the edge, destroying six runway lights along a 400m path before returning to the runway. Landing on a wet runway at night, with visibility reduced by heavy rain, the Virgin Australia 737-800 touched down more than 20m to the right of the runway centreline. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is calling for a review of runway lighting standards following the release of a report into a 2016 incident where a Virgin plane veered during landing at Darwin Airport.Ī runway excursion involving a Boeing 737 at Darwin Airport on 6 December 2016 is drawing attention to the effectiveness of centreline lighting on wider than usual runways. ![]()
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