Red runway status lights used at large U.S. airports such as Chicago O’Hare International and JFK indicate runway status, thereby increasing situation awareness for pilots and vehicle operators. The lights are set in-pavement and illuminate when it is unsafe to enter, cross or begin takeoff.
Everything Explained: Runway Status Lights
Key Takeaways:
- Red runway status lights are automated, in-pavement systems at large U.S. airports that enhance pilot and vehicle operator awareness by indicating when it's unsafe to enter, cross, or begin takeoff on a runway.
- These systems include Runway Entrance Lights (REL), Takeoff Hold Lights (THL), and Runway Intersection Lights (RIL), which illuminate red based on radar inputs detecting traffic on or approaching the runway.
- REL warn pilots at taxiway hold lines of runway traffic or approaching aircraft, while THL indicate when it's unsafe for an aircraft in takeoff position to proceed.
- An additional safety measure, the Final Approach Runway Occupancy Signal (FAROS), uses flashing PAPI lights to alert arriving pilots if the runway is occupied, prompting a go-around if the conflict persists.
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