How is a runway intersection lit?
Where two runways cross, the lights are arranged so that each pilot sees clear guidance and the shared area never sends a conflicting message.
At the point where one runway crosses another, both sets of lights cannot simply run through the shared area. Edge lights may be omitted or irregularly spaced across the intersection, as long as the pilot still has adequate guidance.
Annex 14 addresses the edge lights directly. For the centreline lights, the usual practice is that the priority runway (typically the one in use or the primary runway) keeps its white centreline lights continuous through the crossing, while the other runway’s centreline lights are omitted across the shared area. The same colours apply as elsewhere on each runway, including the yellow edge-light caution zone and the red/white centreline lights toward the runway end.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1What is runway intersection lighting?
The arrangement of runway lights where two runways cross, so that the pilot of an aircraft on either runway is not given conflicting or misleading lights across the shared area.
Q2What happens to the edge lights at a runway intersection?
Edge lights may be spaced irregularly or omitted at the intersection, provided adequate guidance remains available to the pilot.
Q3Which runway's centreline lights continue through the intersection?
Typically the priority runway (the one in use or designated as primary) keeps its centreline lights through the crossing, while the other runway's lights are omitted across the shared area. The exact arrangement is set by the airport and its regulator.
Q4What colour are the lights at a runway intersection?
The same as elsewhere on the runway: white edge lights (yellow in the caution zone near the end of the runway) and white centreline lights (changing to alternate red and white, then red, toward the end), following the normal runway rules.
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