Definition
A row of white in-runway lights, pulsing in unison, installed across a runway at the hold short point used for Land and Hold Short Operations (LAHSO). When illuminated, they indicate to a landing pilot the point on the runway beyond which the aircraft must not roll when conducting a LAHSO clearance.
Plain English
A line of flashing white lights set into the runway surface that shows a landing pilot exactly where they must stop their landing roll when they have been told to land and hold short of an intersecting runway or taxiway.
Context Anchor
Seen during runway lighting discussions and during land and hold short operations at airports where aircraft may be instructed to land and stop before an intersecting runway, taxiway, or marked point.
Derivation
The phrase comes from normal aviation instructions: to land means to touch down on the runway, and to hold short means to stop before crossing a specified point. The lights make that stop-before point visible on the runway surface.
Why Pilots Care
Recognizing these lights lets pilots comply with LAHSO clearances and avoid conflicts with traffic on crossing runways.
Grounding Statement
Picture the lights as a bright line across the runway telling you, “You must be fully stopped before this line.”
Intuition Check
Do not treat these as general runway lights or as permission to continue. They mark a required stopping point after landing when a land and hold short operation is in effect.
Example Sentence 1
After accepting the LAHSO clearance to land and hold short of Runway 9, the pilot confirmed the available landing distance and planned to stop well before the land and hold short lights.
Example Sentence 2
At night the land and hold short lights stood out clearly and confirmed we had reached the correct stopping point.