Definition
An airport where runway and obstruction lighting is available between sunset and sunrise. Lighting may be operated continuously by the airport, controlled by air traffic control, or activated by the pilot using the aircraft radio (pilot-controlled lighting).
Plain English
An airport that has lights for night use. The lights might be on all night, switched on by a controller, or turned on by the pilot using the radio.
Context Anchor
Seen in airport information when planning night operations or checking whether an airport can be safely used after dark.
Why Pilots Care
Determines whether night operations are authorized at that airport and affects choice of alternate airports and fuel reserves.
Intuition Check
Lighted does not mean the entire airport is brightly lit. It means specific airport lights, especially runway and obstruction lights, are available for pilot use.
Example Sentence 1
She filed for a lighted airport as her destination so she would have options if the flight ran past sunset.
Example Sentence 2
Because the alternate airport was not lighted, she adjusted her departure time to arrive before dark.