Maybe the lights are on the centre line and it's the white line that is off centre.
Always thought the raised lights were for blind pilots so they use them like Braille.;);)

I thought they were there to see if my haemorrhoid ointment was working.

Anybody know what height taxiway lights must be because in Belfast they have some absolutely enormous teeth loosening buggas.

I think Goldenrivett's reasoning is the best.

If power supply is closer from one side of the runway then it means less cabling so less cost !

Thank-you
 

I have for more years than I care to remember avidly browsed this forum and found it an excellent place to get a more in-depth understanding of aviation. This thread however is the first article that has ever made me laugh out loud. The quick-witted and wonderfully sharp sense of humour has been a pleasure to read. RAT 5, Bergerie1 et al please continue, your comments are appreciated. As an aside, I well remember being in the jump seat of a B757 (prior to 9/11) and hearing the thump, thump, thump as we accelerated down the runway.

What I don't get is why the lights aren't on the painted centreline - why should there be separated? Back in the day, they weren't separated, were they?

Only possible reason - easier to paint the lines if you don't have to worry about the lights.

Lurkio - 25mm but then you knew that? :O

Some runways have them recessed.


Why can this not be the standard, then there's no issue ? :ugh:

ZeBedie,
Another good question. Why, indeed, are the lights not aligned with the painted markings?

If you can align the aircraft by the inch on landing you're a better man than me!

Maybe so that they don't have to cover all the lights when repainting the centreline every now and then? That's how a lazy person like myself would do that at home :)

It couldn't possibly be to assist avoiding the ker-thunk, ker-thunk on the take off run or landing roll. Could it? :\

Capt C, I was never clever enough!!

FAA AC 150/5340-30H
Runway centerline lighting.
(1) Location. The runway centerline lights are located along the runway centerline at 50 ft. (15m) equally spaced longitudinal intervals. The longitudinal tolerance for runway centerline lights is ±2 ft. (0.6 meter). See Figure 33 for a graphic of the runway centerline lighting layout. The line of runway centerline lights may be uniformly offset laterally to the same side of the physical runway centerline a maximum of 2.5 ft. (0.8 m) (tolerance ±1 inch (25.4 mm) measured from the physical runway centerline to the fixture centerline. For any new runway, the light base installation must be no closer than 2 ft. (0.6 m) (measured to the edge of the fixture base) to any pavement joints. Runway extensions of existing runways must use
the convention already established for that runway. See paragraph 4.3 and Figure 45 for additional information about the taxiway centerline lighting location requirements related to runway centerline lights for major taxiway turnoffs. See AC 150/5340-1 for additional information about runway centerline marking widths and location.

What, me worry?

http://www.improbable.com/wp-content...3-250x187.jpeg

I've noticed over the many years of observation that many F/O's land right of centreline. I asked many, why? The best answer I had was "I didn't want to break the lights, and I'm saving the white paint so it lasts longer." Can't argue with that.

It's a bit like the Air UK F27 crew who landed wheels up: why? "Our pay rise was denied due to increased costs so I was trying to save tyre wear."

Might be better to have the centreline lights on the actual centreline and have the paint markings offset as it's easier to see in daylight where the runway edges are.

Is the airport North or South of the Equator?:} Anyway, real pilots don't need center line lighting.:ok:

I have had several questions moved to the Question forum, and I don't understand why this one remains in this.

Cats eyes
 

Why are cats eyes used to mark the centreline of roads?

Because if they used cats arses they would have to kill twice as many cats.

for runway 18/36 this question becomes really interesting .

amazing thread :ok: