List three types of airfield lighting you would expect to find on an instrument runway and their primary purpose.

List three types of airfield lighting you would expect to find on an instrument runway and their primary purpose.

• A. MALSR, PAPI/VASI, runway edge lights.
• B. VHF radios, beacon lights, wind socks.
• C. Taxiway centerline lights, REIL, runway guard lights.
• D. MALSR only.

Answer: (A)

Instrument runway lighting is designed to help pilots perform precise approaches when visibility is reduced by providing location cues, alignment references, and glide-path guidance. The three main types you’d expect are the MALSR, which is the extended approach lighting system that stretches from the threshold to help identify the runway and line up with the approach path; the visual glide-path indicator such as PAPI or VASI, which gives a visual cue to maintain the correct descent angle for a safe flare; and the runway edge lights, which define the runway boundaries and help the pilot see the edges of the usable surface at night or in low visibility. These elements together support locating the runway, staying on the proper approach path, and recognizing the runway boundaries. Other items listed are important on the airfield, but they do not constitute the three primary lighting types used specifically to support an instrument runway approach.

Instrument runway lighting is designed to help pilots perform precise approaches when visibility is reduced by providing location cues, alignment references, and glide-path guidance. The three main types you’d expect are the MALSR, which is the extended approach lighting system that stretches from the threshold to help identify the runway and line up with the approach path; the visual glide-path indicator such as PAPI or VASI, which gives a visual cue to maintain the correct descent angle for a safe flare; and the runway edge lights, which define the runway boundaries and help the pilot see the edges of the usable surface at night or in low visibility. These elements together support locating the runway, staying on the proper approach path, and recognizing the runway boundaries. Other items listed are important on the airfield, but they do not constitute the three primary lighting types used specifically to support an instrument runway approach.