Originally Posted by
Ascend Charlie
Brilliant. A short conversation on the CTAF between 2 aircraft in daytime will turn on the lights? "ABC, are you in the circuit?"
Pause. "ABC has landed"
Pause. "Thanks mate"
PING! And a month later, the council sees the electricity bill and decides to raise the landing fees.
Does not usually work like that. During daylight hours activating the PAL only activates the PAPI if installed. A lumitrol in the circuit ensures that the runway lights themselves are only switched on at night or in low light situations such as dusk. There may be several light intensity settings as well also controlled by the lumitrol.