Definition
A signal made by pressing the push-to-talk switch on the aircraft microphone three times in quick succession on the published Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) to activate or set the lowest intensity of pilot-controlled runway and airport lighting at an unattended or part-time-attended airport.
Plain English
The pilot quickly clicks the radio transmit button three times on the airport's published frequency to turn on the runway lights at their lowest brightness setting.
Context Anchor
Used at night or in low visibility at airports where pilots control runway lighting by radio.
Why Pilots Care
Enables pilots to illuminate the runway safely without ground staff or tower assistance, reducing the risk of night landings on unlit surfaces.
Intuition Check
Do not think of these as accidental sounds in the microphone. In this context, each “click” is one deliberate press and release of the radio transmit switch.
Example Sentence 1
Approaching the unattended field at night, the pilot tuned the CTAF and gave 3 microphone clicks to bring the runway edge lights up at low intensity.
Example Sentence 2
After making three microphone clicks, the pilot saw the runway edge lights come on at low brightness and began the final approach.