Definition
A system at certain airports that allows the pilot to activate and adjust the intensity of runway and approach lighting from the cockpit by keying the aircraft's radio microphone a specified number of times on a designated frequency, typically the airport's CTAF or UNICOM.
Plain English
At some airports, the runway lights are not left on all the time. The pilot turns them on by clicking the microphone button several times on a specific radio frequency. More clicks make the lights brighter.
Context Anchor
Seen in approach briefings, airport information, and night or instrument operations, especially at airports without an operating control tower.
Why Pilots Care
Allows pilots to obtain essential runway lighting on demand at unmanned airports, supporting safe night and instrument operations without ground personnel.
Intuition Check
Pilot controlled does not mean the pilot steers or individually controls each light. It means the pilot can activate the lighting system, and sometimes select a brightness setting, from the aircraft radio.
Example Sentence 1
The chart noted pilot controlled lighting on 122.8, so I keyed the mic seven times to bring the runway lights up to full intensity before turning final.
Example Sentence 2
After landing, the pilot keyed the microphone three times to turn the lights off and conserve power.