Definition
A runway and approach lighting system at certain airports that the pilot activates and adjusts in intensity from the cockpit by keying the aircraft's radio microphone a specified number of times on the airport's designated UNICOM or CTAF frequency. Typically, seven clicks within five seconds selects high intensity, five clicks selects medium intensity, and three clicks selects low intensity. The lights remain on for a set period (usually 15 minutes) before automatically shutting off.
Plain English
Lighting at smaller, often unattended airports that the pilot turns on and adjusts by clicking the push-to-talk button on the radio a set number of times.
Context Anchor
Seen in night operations at airports without an operating control tower, or when the tower is closed.
Derivation
Combines 'pilot' and 'controlled' to show that the pilot, not a ground controller or timer, initiates activation of the lighting system.
Why Pilots Care
Enables safe night operations at remote or unattended airports where permanent lighting would be impractical.
Intuition Check
Pilot-controlled does not mean the pilot controls every light individually. It means the pilot can activate the airport lighting system, and sometimes select one of its preset brightness levels, by radio.
Example Sentence 1
On the approach into the unattended field, she tuned the CTAF and keyed the mic seven times to bring the runway lights up to high intensity.
Example Sentence 2
Approaching the unattended airport at night, the crew activated the pilot-controlled lighting on the CTAF frequency.