Definition
Taxiway centerline lead-off lights are in-pavement lights that provide a visual guide for pilots exiting the runway, leading from the runway centerline out to a point on a taxiway centerline that allows the aircraft to clear the runway fully. They alternate green and yellow from the runway centerline to the runway holding position or ILS critical area, where the alternating color pattern ends and steady green taxiway centerline lights begin.
Plain English
These are the lights set into the pavement that show you the path off the runway and onto the taxiway. They are colored green and yellow, alternating, so that as you roll off the runway you can follow them through the turn until you are clear of the runway.
Context Anchor
Seen at runway exits on airports with in-runway lighting, especially during night or low-visibility taxi operations.
Derivation
"Lead-off" simply means lights that lead you off the runway. The name describes the job: they guide the aircraft away from the runway and onto the taxiway.
Why Pilots Care
They reduce runway occupancy time and help prevent runway excursions by clearly guiding the aircraft off the runway at the intended exit.
Intuition Check
Do not read “lead-off” as “lights that switch off.” Here it means lights that guide you off the runway and onto a taxiway.
Example Sentence 1
After landing, the captain followed the alternating green and yellow taxiway centerline lead-off lights until the aircraft was fully clear of the runway.
Example Sentence 2
The lead-off lights were especially helpful during a night arrival when visibility was limited.