Description should include the following:
- Approach light systems are primarily intended to provide a means to transition from instrument flight to visual flight for landing. The system configuration depends on whether the runway is a precision or non-precision instrument runway.
- Some systems include sequenced flashing lights that appear to the pilot as a ball of light traveling toward the runway at high speed.
- Approach lights can also aid pilots operating under visual flight rules (VFR) at night.
- Visual glideslope indicators provide the pilot with glidepath information that can be used for day or night approaches. By maintaining the proper glidepath as provided by the system, a pilot should have adequate obstacle clearance and should touch down within a specified portion of the runway.
PLT039