Les feux de piste expliqués | Couleurs, espacement, types

An essential part of an airport’s infrastructure, runway lights guarantee the security and efficacy of aircraft processes, particularly at night and with little visibility.

These lights guide pilots throughout takeoff and landing and flow as solid visual resources.

Les couleurs, l'espacement et les fonctions distincts de chaque feu de piste fournissent un système permettant aux pilotes de prendre des directions et d'effectuer des atterrissages en toute sécurité. 

Vorlane discutera ici des multiples feux de piste, de leurs rôles distincts dans la sécurité aérienne et d'une explication de leurs couleurs et de leur espacement.

Types de feux de piste

Runway lighting is essential for guiding aircraft safely during takeoff and landing.

Lights installed along the runway’s edge and approach areas help pilots navigate under various visibility conditions.

Lead-off lights provide visual guidance as aircraft transition from the runway to taxiways.

Usually, the lights are visible from 3-5 miles away, allowing pilots to identify the runway from a considerable distance.

The lighting setup usually consists of a row of evenly spaced lights, which may begin to alternate between colors to signal the approaching end of the runway or provide other critical information.

Lumières de bord

Couleur

The airport runway edge lights are white.

But these white lights turn yellow at the final 2,000 feet or the last second half of the remaining runway extent, whichever is shorter.

Pilots become alert when the light turns yellow when approaching the close of the runway. 

Espacement

The runway alert lights are installed 200 feet away on either side of the runway.

With consistent spacing, the runway border will be easier for pilots to see since it forms a continuous, distinct outline, especially in poor light.

But

Runway edge lights are primarily used to mark the boundaries of the runway.

These could be medium-intensity runway lights (MIRLs) at less busy airports.

These lights allow the pilots to maintain proper queuing during landing and takeoff.

Moreover, these lights keep the pilots focused on the airfield and stay clear of departures that could cause jerks.

Pilots will stay alert by the runway’s remaining length when it turns yellow near its end, which facilitates safe landing and stopping operations. 

Feux d’axe de piste

Couleur

The runway centerline lights are white in color.

The runway’s final 3,000 feet blink alternate red and white lights.

All of the centerline lights turn red for the last 1,000 feet.

When landing, this hue shift assists pilots in determining how far they still have to go on the runway. 

Espacement

Runway centerline lights are spaced 50 feet apart along the centerline of the runway.

The close spacing provides a constant visual reference, which is especially helpful in low-visibility situations like dense fog or continuous rain.

But

Being placed at half the runway length, the runway centerline lights provide critical alignment advice to the pilot.

They guarantee that pilots stay focused on the runway by assisting them in maintaining the proper course during landing.

Pilots are alerted to the leftover length’s runway by all-red lights in the last 1,000 feet and the tweaking red and white lights in the final 3,000 feet.

This light alternation helps in safe and slowed landing, especially in wild weather or at night. 

Feux de zone de toucher des roues (TDZL)

Couleur

White lights are used in the touchdown zone of the runway.

Because of their excellent visibility and striking contrast with the runway, incoming pilots can immediately distinguish them thanks to their color. 

Espacement

Such lights are installed 100 feet apart on both sides of the runway centerline.

This balanced positioning provides a precision approach in the touchdown zone. 

But

Marking the touchdown zone, typically the initial 3,000 feet or the initial third on a runway.

This zone is shorter and the best spot for an airplane to touch down on the runway when landing.

Particularly in low visibility situations, TDZLs help pilots locate the exact spot for a safe landing by focusing on the crucial area.

In order to maximize the runway distance known for slowing and halting, they offer pilots visual direction to help them synchronize their approach and descent. 

Feux d'identification d'extrémité de piste (REIL)

Couleur

The white flashing lights are placed on the Runway end Identifier.

The flashing differentiates them from various lumières de l'aéroport, ce qui les rend très visibles et proéminents. 

But

REILs are placed by the runway end to maintain the threshold.

Their primary function is to enable pilots to identify the runway end when approaching quickly.

This is particularly helpful while operating at night or when the weather restricts visibility.

The white lights also provide a clear visual indication to help pilots identify the runway point quickly and synchronize their approach for a safe landing.

REILs improve pilots’ situational awareness and across-the-board landing safety by enhancing the view of the runway end.

Runway Threshold Lights

Couleur

The green and yellow lights are placed on the runway approach end, while the departure ends with red threshold lights.

When viewed from the point of the departing aircraft, the runway ends at the red light and starts to land at the green light. 

Espacement

The runway threshold has a continuous row of lights.

This produces an arc of lights that never stops, indicating where the landing area begins. 

But

Runway threshold lights are strategically placed to ensure pilots have a clear visual reference point for the start and end of the runway.

The green lights at the start indicate the beginning of the runway open for landing oncoming aircraft.

Such light placement helps the pilots to land in the approved location and accurately align their planes.

Pilots will determine the takeoff zone through red lights, which signify the end of the runway.

For safe runway execution, this tracing is important as it gives pilots visual cues for both takeoff and landing.

Feux de voie de circulation

Couleur

Le feux de voie de circulation are blue in color. Their bright colors help to distinguish them from other runway lights and to be seen by pilots when flying over the airport. 

Espacement

The spacing of the lights on the taxiway may vary depending on the airport’s design and specifications.

The position of these lights is on boundaries to ensure the path is defined.

The varying spacing allows for different taxiway lengths and configurations while maintaining visual guidance.

But

Airport taxiway lights serve multiple purposes.

The main objective is to guide terminals, runways, and other parts of the airport.

They mark the designated path for the aircraft to follow, separate taxiing aircraft from other vehicles and pedestrians, and even provide directional cues for specific plots like turns and exits.

These light systems reduce the chance of pilots deviating from the approved route by clearly defining the taxiway boundaries.

This is critical at night or in low visibility with limited visual references.

By enabling safe and orderly aircraft movement around the airport, taxiway lights contribute to smooth and efficient ground operations.

Les couleurs et leurs significations

Pilots need to know the colors of the runway and taxiway lights as they are visual cues for flying and navigation.

Every color has a meaning and purpose that makes airport operations more effective and safe.

Blanc:

• Usage: Mostly for centerlines and runway edges. 
• Meaning: White light means the runway you can use. During taxiing, landing, and takeoffs, the constant white lights help you stay in line and know the edges of the runway. 

Rouge:

• Usage: Red lights are located on the runway centerline’s final part as the approach light system. 
• Meaning: It means the pilots should be alert to the boundary, and the end of the runway is near. Pilots can use the red lights to make the necessary adjustments to land safely or not overrun.

Vert:

• Utilisation : Les feux verts sont en bord de piste. 
• Meaning: It signifies the start of the runway is open for landing. Green threshold lights help pilots to identify where the runway starts so they can land in the designated landing area.

Jaune:

• Utilisation : Il est présent dans le segment final des feux latéraux de piste. 
• Meaning: The yellow light alarms pilots that they are on the final 2,000 feet, or half the total length. 

Bleu:

• Utilisation : Applicable aux bords des voies de circulation. 
• Meaning: Directs airplanes on their way to the runway. Pilots can navigate between runways and other airport facilities by following the defined routes marked by runway and taxiway lights.

Ces feux à code couleur fournissent un système visuel robuste qui améliore la conscience de la situation du pilote et garantit des opérations aéroportuaires sûres et efficaces dans divers scénarios.

Espacement des feux de piste

Proper spacing of runway light fixtures is important to ensure pilots have steady visual cues during all phases of flight.

There are specific spacing requirements for each runway light depending on its purpose and function.

Feux de bord de piste :

• Espacement : situés à au moins 200 pieds.
• Purpose: It gives the runway’s edge a unique definition. Pilots need to see the runway edge clearly so they can stay aligned from takeoff to landing.

Feux d’axe de piste :

• Espacement : situés à 50 pieds les uns des autres. 
• Objectif : Il garantit un guidage constant tout au long de la piste. Avec un espacement plus rapproché, les pilotes peuvent maintenir leur centre de gravité sur la piste, ce qui est particulièrement crucial lors d'un atterrissage par faible visibilité. Il donne également aux pilotes une référence visuelle cohérente et évidente.

Feux de zone de toucher des roues (TDZL) :

• Espacement : Séparés de 100 pieds. 
• Objectif : Désigner avec précision la zone de toucher des roues. Les pilotes peuvent identifier la zone d'atterrissage idéale en utilisant ces feux, présents des deux côtés de l'axe de la piste. Cela les aide à déterminer le meilleur endroit pour entrer en contact avec la surface de la piste. 

Feux de voie de circulation :

• Espacement : Son espacement est varié. 
• Purpose: It assures taxiways are precise. Although taxiway centerline lights are present and offer continuous visuals along the sides of taxiways, their spacing may vary depending on the particular design and ordinances of the airport. This flexibility allows for varying taxiway lengths and layouts while providing pilots with efficient guidance. 

Here is a table to get all the information at a glance: