Definition
A system of flush-mounted white lights installed in the runway pavement along the centerline, spaced at regular intervals, used to provide visual guidance to pilots during takeoff and landing in low-visibility conditions. The lights are white for most of the runway's length, transition to alternating red and white for the next-to-last 3,000 feet, and become solid red for the final 1,000 feet to indicate the runway-end is approaching.
Plain English
A line of lights set into the runway surface running down the middle, helping pilots stay lined up when visibility is poor. The colors change near the end of the runway to warn pilots that they're running out of pavement.
Context Anchor
You see runway centerline lighting during night operations, low-visibility operations, and on runways equipped for more precise landing guidance.
Why Pilots Care
Provides positive visual guidance to keep the aircraft on the runway surface, reducing the chance of veering off during low-visibility or night operations.
Intuition Check
Do not assume this means the painted centerline stripe on the runway. Runway Centerline Lighting means actual lights placed along the runway centerline to guide the pilot.
Example Sentence 1
Cleared for takeoff in low visibility, the captain followed the runway centerline lighting to maintain alignment until rotation.
Example Sentence 2
On the low-visibility takeoff, the runway centerline lighting gave the crew a clear reference all the way to the end of the runway.