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Aviation glossary

Runway Centerline Lights

What is runway centerline lights?

FAA handbook figure illustrating runway centerline lights

Runway centerline lights are a row of lights embedded along the middle of some runways to guide pilots in low-visibility conditions — they appear white for most of the runway, then alternate white and red in the last 3,000 feet, and turn all red in the final 1,000 feet to warn you the runway is almost over.

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