ARCAL (Aircraft Radio Control of Aerodrome Lighting) is one of the most interesting airport systems. At most airports except for large international airports, the lights are turned off after the tower is closed. It is off course waste of money and energy to keep the airport lights on over the night, but how do we land on the dark airport at night after the tower is closed? It's very scary and actually illegal to land on a runway without lights. ARCAL is prepared for such pilots. It's easy to use; just click the microphone button five or seven times within five minutes, then the airport lights are turned on just like the lights in your room. I used ARCAL several times during my night flight lesson. It's interesting to see the illuminated runway coming up from darkness. Anyway, one ARCAL is expired within 15 minutes and the lights are supposed to be turned off automatically. When I was flying night circuits alone and I was just right on final approach, the lights got suddenly expired and I had to click the microphone seven times just before landing over the dark runway. It was scary but the landing at that time was one of my best landings without a creaking noise. I don't know what this means.
How refreshing that there is still an ofaicifl viewing point. When I first saw your photos on Flickr I have to admit I thought you would be visited by the UK equivalent of Homeland Security! In the airport itself they have managed to screen off much of the viewing area between Terminals 1 and 2, which is a shame. Children (adults too) like to see the plane they are waiting for land.
Posted by: Malik | March 10, 2013 at 07:00 PM