Lighted Taxiway – Taxiway with Edge Lighting – Airport Lighting

Definition and Overview

A lighted taxiway is an airport taxiway equipped with blue edge lighting, forming a critical element of the airfield lighting system. These visual aids are installed along both sides of the taxiway to enable pilots and ground vehicle operators to safely identify and navigate taxiways during periods of darkness, poor weather, or low visibility. Taxiway edge lighting is required by international aviation standards for any airport conducting night operations or serving as an alternate for commercial flights.

Edge lights use omnidirectional blue fixtures installed at regular intervals, creating a visible corridor that clearly defines the taxiway’s usable surface. This lighting system complements other airfield lighting, such as runway lights (white), centerline lights (green), and special visual aids for approach or obstruction marking. The blue color is mandated by ICAO and FAA regulations to avoid confusion with other airfield lights.

Lighted taxiways are indispensable for operational safety, preventing aircraft excursions, runway incursions, and ground collisions, especially during low visibility or complex ground movements. Standardized design, placement, and intensity ensure global consistency and reliability.

Purpose and Operational Context

Taxiway edge lights transform otherwise indistinct pavement into a clearly delineated, navigable route for pilots and ground crews. Their primary purposes include:

• Night Operations: Illuminating taxiway boundaries so pilots can safely maneuver aircraft between runways, aprons, and terminals after dark.
• Low Visibility: Providing essential visual cues during fog, heavy precipitation, or snow when pavement markings are obscured.
• Safety and Compliance: Reducing the risk of runway incursions and ground collisions; fulfilling ICAO/FAA requirements for airports operating at night or in poor visibility.
• Operational Efficiency: Enabling continuous ground movement regardless of ambient light, maximizing airport throughput.
• Emergency/Contingency Support: Supporting safe aircraft movement during power outages or emergencies with portable or solar-powered edge lights.

Example: In the Tenerife disaster of 1977, the absence of effective ground lighting in dense fog contributed to catastrophic miscommunication. Today, robust taxiway and runway lighting is a baseline requirement at major airports.

Types of Taxiway Lighting

Taxiway Edge Lights

• Function: Define the edges of taxiways with blue light.
• Types:
  • Elevated: Mounted above ground, highly visible, but susceptible to jet blast or snow removal.
  • Inset (Recessed): Flush-mounted, ideal for intersections or high-speed areas.
  • Solar-Powered: Portable or emergency use, meeting color and intensity standards.

Edge lights are spaced 50–200 feet (15–60 m) apart, with closer spacing on curves or intersections. They are rugged, weatherproof, and engineered for harsh airfield conditions.

Taxiway Centerline Lights

• Color: Green.
• Location: Embedded along the centerline, especially at complex airports or where low-visibility operations are routine.
• Purpose: Provide a precise path for taxiing, minimizing risk of deviation.

Other Taxiway Lighting Systems

• Clearance Bar Lights: Steady yellow in-pavement lights at designated holding points.
• Runway Guard Lights (RGLs): Flashing yellow at taxiway/runway intersections to warn of runway proximity.
• Stop Bar Lights: Rows of red, in-pavement lights at runway holding points, controlled by ATC.
• Apron Edge Lights: Blue lights marking the boundaries of aircraft parking areas.

Technical Specifications

Modern LED models provide remote monitoring, adjustable intensity, and longer maintenance intervals.

Regulatory Compliance and Standards

Lighted taxiways must conform to:

• ICAO Annex 14: Global standards for color, placement, intensity, and integration with other visual aids.
• FAA AC150/5345-46: U.S. specification for procurement, installation, and maintenance.
• EASA, UK CAA, Transport Canada, etc.: National standards aligned with ICAO requirements.

Compliance is enforced through certification, inspections, and operational oversight. Non-compliance can result in operational restrictions or loss of certification.

Design, Color Coding, and Placement

Color Coding

Placement

• Edge lights installed along both taxiway edges, 50–200 ft apart.
• Closer spacing on curves or complex intersections.
• Staggered arrangement preferred to avoid visual confusion.
• Inset fixtures used where elevated lights would pose a hazard.

Edge lights form continuous blue lines outlining taxiways, instantly recognizable to pilots and vehicle operators.

Control and Operation

• ATC-Controlled: Centralized panels allow adjustment of intensity, activation/deactivation by airport control.
• Automated: Sensors trigger lights at dusk/dawn or during low visibility.
• Pilot Controlled Lighting (PCL): At smaller airports, pilots activate taxiway lights via radio.
  • Type K: 7 microphone clicks for ON; 3/5/7 clicks for intensity.
  • Type J: 5 clicks for ON, single intensity.

Lights remain on for a preset interval, aiding energy efficiency and maintenance.

Technological Options: LED, Incandescent, Solar

LEDs are preferred for efficiency and reliability. Incandescent bulbs, while simple, require frequent replacement. Solar-powered solutions are ideal for temporary or emergency use.

Operational Use Cases

• Low Visibility: All taxiway edge and centerline lights at max brightness guide pilots when visibility drops below safe limits, with ATC controlling stop bars for runway safety.
• Night, Non-Towered Airport: Pilots activate lights via PCL for safe after-dark taxi without on-site ATC.
• Remote or Temporary Airfields: Solar-powered edge lights enable rapid, compliant setup for humanitarian, military, or disaster-relief operations.

Summary

A lighted taxiway is fundamental to modern airport safety and efficiency, using standardized blue edge lighting to guide aircraft and vehicles on the ground at night or in poor visibility. Technological advances, regulatory compliance, and careful design ensure these systems reduce risk, support continuous operations, and meet the highest standards of aviation safety.

For a tailored solution or expert consultation on upgrading your airport’s taxiway lighting, contact our specialists today .