Definition
A row of in-pavement lights installed along the centerline of a runway to give pilots a clear visual reference for runway alignment during takeoff, landing, and rollout, particularly in low visibility conditions. The lights are flush with the runway surface and are typically white, transitioning to alternating red and white in the final portion of the runway, then to all red near the end to warn of the approaching runway end.
Plain English
Lights set into the runway surface itself, running straight down the middle, so pilots can see and stay on the centerline even when visibility is poor.
Context Anchor
You see centerline lighting while taxiing onto a runway, beginning the takeoff roll, landing at night, or operating when visibility is reduced.
Why Pilots Care
Helps maintain directional control on the runway and reduces the chance of drifting off the edges during night or low-visibility operations.
Grounding Statement
On a dark runway, centerline lighting gives the pilot a bright line to track so the airplane stays pointed down the runway.
Intuition Check
Centerline lighting does not mean any lights near the middle of the airport. In this context, it means lights placed along the runway centerline to guide aircraft alignment.
Example Sentence 1
On the takeoff roll in low visibility, the pilot kept the airplane tracking straight by following the centerline lighting.
Example Sentence 2
With fog reducing visibility, the centerline lighting allowed the pilot to maintain alignment during the landing rollout.