Short Final: Bright Lights; Big City

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Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at 08:40 PM ET

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Credit: Unsplash: Venti Views

Key Takeaways:

A student pilot on a night cross-country flight had difficulty seeing the runway lights in the brightly lit Atlanta area.
The pilot repeatedly asked air traffic control to turn on or increase the intensity of the runway lights.
Peachtree Tower confirmed the runway lights were already at maximum brightness, leading the pilot to realize the overwhelming city lights were the problem.
The humorous exchange highlights the challenge of visual perception for pilots at night, especially in environments with significant light pollution.

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A student pilot was on a night cross-country in the Atlanta area.

Cessna 1234Y: “Peachtree Tower, Cessna One Two Three Four Yankee. Turn on the runway lights now please.”

Peachtree Tower: “Cessna Three Four Yankee, the runway lights are on.”

Cessna 1234Y: “Well, could you turn them up please?”

Peachtree Tower: “Sir, the runway lights are up to maximum intensity now.”

Cessna 1234Y (in a very meek voice): “Peachtree Tower, Cessna Three Four Yankee. Could you turn off the city lights, please?”

From an IFR Magazine reader who prefers to remain anonymous