Definition
An annotation indicating the terminating (final) end of the runway centerline lighting system. Runway centerline lights are flush-mounted white lights installed along the centerline of a runway at uniform intervals, used to provide visual guidance during takeoff and landing in low-visibility conditions. The 'terminal' designation marks where this lighting system ends along the runway.
Plain English
A note on airport charts showing where the line of lights down the middle of the runway stops.
Context Anchor
Seen mainly in NOTAMs or facility status information, especially when a communication service is reported out of service or restored.
Derivation
Terminal' here comes from the Latin terminus, meaning 'end' or 'boundary.' It marks the end point of the centerline lighting run, not a passenger terminal.
Why Pilots Care
In low-visibility takeoffs and landings, runway centerline lights are a primary visual cue. Knowing where the lighting begins and ends helps pilots judge remaining runway and stay oriented when other references are obscured.
Intuition Check
Do not read “terminal” as the passenger building at the airport. Here, “terminal” means the equipment at the end of a radio communication link.
Example Sentence 1
The airport diagram showed the RCLT marking near the departure end of Runway 27.
Example Sentence 2
Pilots checked the RCLT status before night operations.