Approach Runway End Light for Airfield Ground Lighting

What It Does

Approach runway-end lighting forms part of the visual-aid arrangement at the runway approach and runway-end interface.

The runway end is a critical reference. The lighting must distinguish the landing threshold from the physical runway extremity and give the required information to aircraft approaching, landing, taking off or moving on the runway.

Depending on configuration, the arrangement may combine threshold identification, runway-end identification, direction-specific optical output, a green approach-side indication and a red runway-side indication.

What We Supply

Precision AGL Solutions supplies solutions selected according to:

• Runway configuration and threshold position
• Whether threshold coincides with runway extremity
• Displaced-threshold arrangement
• Runway classification and approach category
• Fixture configuration, optical direction, colour, intensity and beam
• Elevated or inset installation
• Electrical circuit and isolating transformer
• Mounting, environment and project specification

The final configuration should follow the approved airport lighting layout and applicable aerodrome standard.

Functions

• Identifying the landing threshold
• Identifying the runway extremity
• Providing direction-specific colour information
• Supporting approach alignment
• Supporting take-off runway recognition
• Providing a clear interface between approach and runway lighting
• Supporting runway-end identification during night operations

The Key Distinction

The exact function depends on this relationship, which matters most for displaced-threshold arrangements.

Threshold light: identifies the beginning of the landing portion. Runway end light: identifies the physical extremity. ICAO specifies threshold lights as fixed unidirectional green in the approach direction and runway-end lights as fixed unidirectional red in the runway direction.

Threshold Coincident With Runway End

A combined fixture may give different indications by viewing direction. FAA guidance describes it as green on the approach side and red on the runway side, using separate optical paths, lenses or filters in one physical fixture.

Verify this characteristic when selecting a combined fixture.

Displaced Runway Threshold

A displaced threshold changes the relationship between physical runway end, landing threshold, approach area, runway-end lights and threshold lights.

FAA guidance identifies separate colour arrangements: lights at the displaced threshold emit green outward from the threshold, while runway edge lights in the displaced area show red toward the approach, as applicable to the approved design.

A displaced-threshold application should never be treated as a simple copy of a threshold-at-runway-end arrangement.

Colour Configuration

• Approach direction — Green: identifies the threshold to an approaching aircraft
• Runway direction — Red: identifies the runway end to aircraft operating in the runway direction

FAA notes special lenses or filters create the required direction-specific coverage. Confirm exact colours against the approved runway arrangement.

Optical Characteristics

A combined fixture may have green output toward the approach, red toward the runway, independent optical paths, separate LED/lamp channels, special lenses, filters, reflector/lens assemblies and direction-specific beam distributions.

The submittal should therefore give approach-side photometry and runway-side photometry, not one generic curve.

Runway-End Lights Under ICAO

• Provided for a runway equipped with runway edge lights
• On a line at right angles to the runway axis
• As near to the runway end as possible, and not more than 3 m outside it
• At least six lights
• Evenly spaced between edge-light rows, or in two symmetrical groups
• Fixed unidirectional red in the direction of the runway

Category III & Quantity

For Category III precision approach runways, ICAO limits runway-end light spacing to 6 m, except for the innermost pair when a central gap is used.

Treat these as system-layout requirements, not generic product dimensions. For FAA arrangements, count and spacing vary with runway width and the approved threshold configuration, with fixtures grouped symmetrically about the centreline.

Elevated

Typical components:

• Combined threshold/runway-end fixture
• Green/red optical assembly
• LED or approved light source
• Mounting base and frangible support
• Primary/secondary cable connection
• Isolating transformer where applicable
• Fasteners

FAA guidance: fixtures in each group on both sides of a threshold should be all elevated or all in-pavement; mixing them in one group gives inconsistent light output.

Inset / In-Pavement

Where the design requires it:

• In-pavement light fitting and load-bearing housing
• Green/red optical system and LED module
• Optical lens and mounting hardware
• Gasket/sealing system and drainage
• Secondary cable, isolating transformer, primary connector

Inset installation needs careful coordination with pavement and drainage.

Coordinate With

• Runway threshold and physical runway end
• Runway centreline and edge
• Threshold marking
• Approach-lighting system
• Runway edge lights
• Runway-end configuration

Positioning

For ICAO runway-end lighting, the fixture line is perpendicular to the runway axis and as close to the physical runway end as practicable. FAA combined threshold/runway-end guidance gives specific positional limits and coordination requirements.

Check both colour directions for alignment: runway centreline, threshold line, runway-end line, fixture spacing and orientation, approach-side and runway-side optical axes, and relationship to edge lights.

From Approach

• Green indication
• Correct intensity and beam spread
• Correct alignment
• No unintended red output

From Runway

• Red indication
• Correct intensity and beam spread
• Correct alignment
• No unintended green output

Potential Advantages

• Long operating life
• Reduced lamp replacement
• Lower maintenance
• Consistent green/red output
• Controlled optical distribution
• Fast response
• Reduced energy consumption
• Improved system monitoring

LEDs Do Not Prove Compliance

The complete fixture must satisfy the applicable colour, intensity, beam, electrical, mechanical and environmental requirements.

Possible Configurations

• Series-circuit operation
• Individual isolating transformer
• Dedicated approach/runway circuit
• LED driver
• Multi-channel colour output
• Intensity control
• Centralised monitoring

Technical Review

• Operating current and power consumption
• Series-circuit compatibility
• Transformer requirement and driver arrangement
• Primary connector and secondary connection
• Control system and monitoring

Typical Construction

• Corrosion-resistant body
• Green/red optical channels and LED modules
• Lens system and reflector
• Inset housing, gaskets and sealing
• Fasteners and cable interface
• Drainage arrangement
• Frangible support where elevated

Take exact construction from the manufacturer's approved documentation.

Environmental Exposure

Rain, water ingress, dust, humidity, temperature variation, UV, corrosion, vibration, aircraft movement, pavement contamination and cleaning chemicals.

For inset installations focus on water ingress, drainage, sealing, pavement interface and mechanical loading.