Pilot/Controller Glossary

4/3/14

PCG A−8

4.

SSALR− Simplified Short Approach Light

System with Runway Alignment Indicator Lights.

5.

MALSF− Medium Intensity Approach Light

System with Sequenced Flashing Lights.

6.

MALSR− Medium Intensity Approach Light

System with Runway Alignment Indicator Lights.

7.

RLLS− Runway Lead-in Light System

Consists of one or more series of flashing lights

installed at or near ground level that provides positive

visual guidance along an approach path, either

curving or straight, where special problems exist with

hazardous terrain, obstructions, or noise abatement

procedures.

8.

RAIL− Runway Alignment Indicator Lights−

Sequenced Flashing Lights which are installed only

in combination with other light systems.

9.

ODALS− Omnidirectional Approach Light-

ing System consists of seven omnidirectional

flashing lights located in the approach area of a

nonprecision runway. Five lights are located on the

runway centerline extended with the first light

located 300 feet from the threshold and extending at

equal intervals up to 1,500 feet from the threshold.

The other two lights are located, one on each side of

the runway threshold, at a lateral distance of 40 feet

from the runway edge, or 75 feet from the runway

edge when installed on a runway equipped with a

VASI.

(Refer to FAAO JO 6850.2, VISUAL GUIDANCE

LIGHTING SYSTEMS.)

b.

Runway Lights/Runway Edge Lights− Lights

having a prescribed angle of emission used to define

the lateral limits of a runway. Runway lights are

uniformly spaced at intervals of approximately 200

feet, and the intensity may be controlled or preset.

c.

Touchdown Zone Lighting− Two rows of

transverse light bars located symmetrically about the

runway centerline normally at 100 foot intervals. The

basic system extends 3,000 feet along the runway.

d.

Runway Centerline Lighting− Flush centerline

lights spaced at 50-foot intervals beginning 75 feet

from the landing threshold and extending to within 75

feet of the opposite end of the runway.

e.

Threshold Lights− Fixed green lights arranged

symmetrically left and right of the runway centerline,

identifying the runway threshold.

f.

Runway End Identifier Lights (REIL)− Two

synchronized flashing lights, one on each side of the

runway threshold, which provide rapid and positive

identification of the approach end of a particular

runway.

g.

Visual Approach Slope Indicator (VASI)− An

airport lighting facility providing vertical visual

approach slope guidance to aircraft during approach

to landing by radiating a directional pattern of high

intensity red and white focused light beams which

indicate to the pilot that he/she is “on path” if he/she

sees red/white, “above path” if white/white, and

“below path” if red/red. Some airports serving large

aircraft have three-bar VASIs which provide two

visual glide paths to the same runway.

h.

Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI)− An

airport lighting facility, similar to VASI, providing

vertical approach slope guidance to aircraft during

approach to landing. PAPIs consist of a single row of

either two or four lights, normally installed on the left

side of the runway, and have an effective visual range

of about 5 miles during the day and up to 20 miles at

night. PAPIs radiate a directional pattern of high

intensity red and white focused light beams which

indicate that the pilot is “on path” if the pilot sees an

equal number of white lights and red lights, with

white to the left of the red; “above path” if the pilot

sees more white than red lights; and “below path” if

the pilot sees more red than white lights.

i.

Boundary Lights− Lights defining the perimeter

of an airport or landing area.

(Refer to AIM.)

AIRPORT MARKING AIDS− Markings used on

runway and taxiway surfaces to identify a specific

runway, a runway threshold, a centerline, a hold line,

etc. A runway should be marked in accordance with

its present usage such as:

a.

Visual.

b.

Nonprecision instrument.

c.

Precision instrument.

(Refer to AIM.)

AIRPORT REFERENCE POINT (ARP)− The

approximate geometric center of all usable runway

surfaces.
AIRPORT RESERVATION OFFICE− Office

responsible for monitoring the operation of slot

controlled airports. It receives and processes requests

for unscheduled operations at slot controlled airports.
AIRPORT ROTATING BEACON− A visual

NAVAID operated at many airports. At civil airports,