What is temporary and portable runway lighting for works?
The lights an aerodrome sets out when works change what a runway can be used for, and how they stand in for the permanent pattern until the works are finished.
Works change what part of a runway or taxiway aircraft can use, but pilots still need a correct visual picture. Temporary lighting shows the changed layout: portable lights or a temporary circuit set out for the length of the works, in the right colours and places, and taken away when the permanent pattern is restored.
1When temporary lights are needed
Three common cases. A temporarily displaced threshold, where aircraft must land further along the runway, is shown by threshold lights at the new position. A closed or shortened portion is marked by red lights across the way in, as in closed runway marking lights. A taxi route or runway edge that has moved needs edge or centreline markers on the new line. Tall plant such as cranes needs its own obstacle lighting, which is a separate subject.
2What the temporary set-up has to show
Each temporary light should match the colour and function of the permanent light it replaces: white for runway edge, green for threshold, red for a runway end or closed area, blue for taxiway edge. Edge lights before a displaced threshold show red to an approaching aircraft, and the threshold bar shows green. The lights also have to be bright enough to be seen from the approach in the prevailing visibility. Where a unit meets the photometric specification of a permanent light depends on the product and on the aerodrome's approval, so it is shown by data, not assumed.
3Choosing a portable light
The power source decides how long the set-up can run and what has to be checked each day.
| Type | Power | Suits | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery LED | Rechargeable cells in the unit | Short works, closures, end and edge markers | Runtime over the whole night; charge state |
| Solar LED | Solar panel plus internal battery | Longer works where recharging is awkward | Shaded panels, dull weather, battery ageing |
| Cabled temporary circuit | Portable CCR or generator, surface cable | Longer works, threshold or edge lines | Cable routing, isolation, earthing; no back-feed into the permanent circuit |
4Placing and fixing the lights
- Low and frangible. Equipment near active surfaces is kept as low as practicable and breaks clean if struck, so it does not damage an aircraft.
- Held in place. Weighted or anchored for wind and jet blast; drilling into pavement needs approval.
- Aimed and spaced as planned. Directional units face the approach, and positions follow the approved works plan, not the nearest convenient spot.
- Work-site floodlights controlled. Lighting for the workforce is shielded and aimed so it does not dazzle pilots or the control tower.
5Control, notification and removal
The permanent lights inside the work area are not operated, or arranged as the approved plan sets out, so they do not lead aircraft into it. Temporary circuits are kept separate from the permanent circuit, isolated and earthed as for any cable work. Every change is notified through the works notification and air traffic procedures. At the end, the temporary lights are removed, the permanent system is tested, and the original pattern is restored before the area reopens.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1What is temporary runway lighting for works?
It is the set of lights an aerodrome sets out for the duration of works that change what part of a runway or taxiway can be used. The lights show the changed layout in the right colours and positions, and are removed when the permanent pattern is restored.
Q2When does a displaced threshold need temporary lights?
When works mean aircraft must land beyond the normal threshold for a time. Annex 14 expects a temporarily displaced threshold to be shown with threshold lights at its new position, and the runway edge lights before it show red to an approaching aircraft, so the full runway is not read as available for landing.
Q3Can portable battery or solar lights replace the permanent runway lights?
For a limited period, if the aerodrome has approved them for that use. They have to give the colour, position and visibility the works plan requires. They are a stand-in while works last, not a permanent substitute, and their photometric performance should be shown by the manufacturer's data and the aerodrome's approval.
Q4Why are the permanent lights switched off or changed inside the work area?
A lit edge or centreline pattern leads a pilot toward the area. Where aircraft must not use a stretch, its normal lights are not operated, and red lights mark the way in. Where a threshold is displaced, the edge lights before it show red in the approach direction, so they do not read as a full-length runway.
Q5What should be checked before each night's use?
Charge or power supply for the full hours of darkness, lens and colour condition, position against the approved plan, aiming of directional units, stability against wind and jet blast, and the condition of any cable and earthing. Anything missing, dim or moved is corrected before aircraft are cleared to use the area.
Q6How are temporary lighting changes notified?
Through the aerodrome's works notification and air traffic procedures, such as a NOTAM, ATC instructions and any change to declared distances. The lights are the signal on the ground, not the only one.
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