A few details I noticed about this video. First, the announcer is speaking American English, but the lighting systems being described are ICAO-approved systems, which is an international standard and all distances are in meters. Second, this film was made before Category 3 existed, so there is no information on those systems. But the difference is minimal, since the approach lighting is the same as a Cat 2, and the main difference is extra lights on the taxiways. Third, the systems referred to in this film as “Simple approach light systems”, known to the ICAO to be only good enough for non-precision approaches, which use barrettes at 60 meter/200 foot spacing and extend out only 390 meters/1400 feet rather than the 30 meter/100 foot spacing, 900 meters/3000 feet length of a full system are in fact the basis for the typical Cat 1 system in the US. Basically, you take a short, simple approach light system (SSALS), add five sequenced flashers leading up to it (Runway Alignment Indicator Lights), and you have a Medium Intensity Approach Light System with Runway Alignment Indicator Lights, thankfully abbreviated to MALSR. For the international standard, this is only good enough for a non-precision approach. But the FAA thinks it’s good enough for a Cat 1. The standard in the US used to be the ALSF-1, which is similar to the barrette-type Cat 1 system shown in this film. The ALSF-1 remains the standard for military fields in the US. But the FAA believes that saving money is more important than safety, so they cut it down to a simple, non-precision approach lighting system. They have since been toying with the idea of cutting it down even more by reducing the barrettes from 5 to 3 lights each. I guess we just don’t need all that light when landing in the soup! Fourth, in the typical FAA system, almost never is the approach lighting system 900 meters (3000 feet) long. Most only extend out to 2400 feet (720 meters), and a few are shorter yet, some only 1400 feet with an abbreviated set of flashers at the end, called a MALSF.
The video appears to be from the 1950's or so, but, they are measuring the lights in meters ... I would expect them to be using a non metric measuring system back then ...
Thanks for putting this interesting document up. Anyone know the date on this document? Is it a Pans-Ops standard? It's perplexing to hear an English speaker, with an American accent, giving specifications in metric units. One would assume the TERPS document would be in feet.
Howdy!! I'm just a older dude fascinated with aviation. I have a question for either a Captain or a FO, Who is certified in CAT III landings. My question is; What is the conditions, visual criteria, and just a short explanation on why, where, and when they are performed? Thanks for reading and hope to hear back soon!! Oh, and I also agree that these B&W traing films are the least confusing to understand. ✈✈✈✈✈
palonazo Many of these configs are still being used today in both the US and UK, minus the new additions. Primary and advanced students aren't likely to get into extra study of lighting systems, unless they have an interest in supplementing the PTS basics with additional study.
skyyguyy Of course, some regulations haven't changed in decades. But when they do, you need to know the most current ones (word by word for the exams). Some years ago, before the change to EASA, you could study for the exams using only books. Today, for the Air Law and Operational Procedures exams, old books just aren't enough. You need to study the actual documents because questions get added to the question banks every week.
The only problem with this old instructional film, is despite there being red, green, yellow and blue lights, the film is black and white, IMHO the mental retention would be better if someone re-shot these films on video-in living color!
sometime machines fail, and secondly not all countries or states have the financial means to upgrade their small airports to make it ILS friendly.So using simple lighting concept as guide is always a better solution.
DZEyoyo123 The category of the ILS procedure is more or less defined by the height at which you must be able to visually see the runway. If you don't actually see the runway at the defined DH (decision height), you have to go around. The higher the procedure category, the lower the RVR (runway visual range) and DH for that procedure. That's why, the greater the category, the more robust the lighting system has to be. The only hypothetical category in which lighting would be reduntant, would be CATIIIc, which has no decision height or RVR requirement but although there are runways and airplanes capable of fully automatic landing and rollout, I believe no operators, ground equipment, crew, airplanes or runways are currently certified for CATIIIc.
i'm not a pilot, but as far as i know the approach lighting installation is the same for higher low vis categories up to IIIB. maybe higher light intensity or so, dont know. the main aspect when it comes to the higher categories is special pilot training and special avionics requirements for the airplane like multiple autoland systems etc.
Good info, but light colors are washed out. All colors appear white or near white. No easily visible red or green or blue lights. Yes this is an old video. Has to be something better by now.
The lack of color video back then, and use of black and white film, and the filming technique make the film seem rather flat. The style of the tutorial, you might like. But the information takeaway struggles. I would prefer a more modern version.
![All about runway markings [atc for you]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/k_CrrAfEQHE/mqdefault.jpg)
![airport lighting - you must know [atc for you]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/-xM-Y245kUo/mqdefault.jpg)
These old school videos are the best. No UA-cam fluff or flair. Straight up learning 👍🏿
Agreed. Good observation
right? and no, subscribe, buy my service, and buy me an airport in Alaska so I can annoyingly talk to you about random things in an annoying voice!
Asides from the "High Speed Exit Taxiways" being officially called Rapid Exit Taxiways today. This is still extremely relevant to modern day Airlaw.
I work with airfield lighting systems for the day job, but the soothing tone will help me sleep more soundly at night :-)
A few details I noticed about this video.
First, the announcer is speaking American English, but the lighting systems being described are ICAO-approved systems, which is an international standard and all distances are in meters.
Second, this film was made before Category 3 existed, so there is no information on those systems. But the difference is minimal, since the approach lighting is the same as a Cat 2, and the main difference is extra lights on the taxiways.
Third, the systems referred to in this film as “Simple approach light systems”, known to the ICAO to be only good enough for non-precision approaches, which use barrettes at 60 meter/200 foot spacing and extend out only 390 meters/1400 feet rather than the 30 meter/100 foot spacing, 900 meters/3000 feet length of a full system are in fact the basis for the typical Cat 1 system in the US. Basically, you take a short, simple approach light system (SSALS), add five sequenced flashers leading up to it (Runway Alignment Indicator Lights), and you have a Medium Intensity Approach Light System with Runway Alignment Indicator Lights, thankfully abbreviated to MALSR. For the international standard, this is only good enough for a non-precision approach. But the FAA thinks it’s good enough for a Cat 1. The standard in the US used to be the ALSF-1, which is similar to the barrette-type Cat 1 system shown in this film. The ALSF-1 remains the standard for military fields in the US. But the FAA believes that saving money is more important than safety, so they cut it down to a simple, non-precision approach lighting system. They have since been toying with the idea of cutting it down even more by reducing the barrettes from 5 to 3 lights each. I guess we just don’t need all that light when landing in the soup!
Fourth, in the typical FAA system, almost never is the approach lighting system 900 meters (3000 feet) long. Most only extend out to 2400 feet (720 meters), and a few are shorter yet, some only 1400 feet with an abbreviated set of flashers at the end, called a MALSF.
Thank's for usefull info.
One of the best videos i've watched while wanting to tear my eyes out...Great info, would love to see one made after my parents were born!
I fell being in the lates 60s lol!!!, interesting!!
This film would have saved a lot of lives in "Die Hard 2".
Can you buy these at an affordable price for your homes driveway? My wife keeps driving over the grass when entering our driveway, These would help.
Don't clear her again until she has the drive way environment in sight. ;p
Unstable Approach! Go Around WIFE69!
Need to file a driver possible deviation.
Is she using driving within the VDR VMC?
Very helpful!i like it! Simple and clear.other videos like this?thanks a lot
great video! blast from the past!
Barettes.... I love it! Must be a late sixties or early seventies film. Cat III was not very common then. Nice video. Thank you for the download!
The video appears to be from the 1950's or so, but, they are measuring the lights in meters ... I would expect them to be using a non metric measuring system back then ...
i swear......this narrator must be the same guy in EVERY instructional film
Thanks for putting this interesting document up.
Anyone know the date on this document?
Is it a Pans-Ops standard? It's perplexing to hear an English speaker, with an American accent, giving specifications in metric units. One would assume the TERPS document would be in feet.
Wow... Thankyou so much man... I needed the info...
Need to know when the FOUR VASI light system was introduced (predominately on port (left) side of runway threshold. Anyone know?
I love old tv voices
This hasn't changed much, or at all, in like 50 years. If it ain't broke, don't touch it.
Very nice video. Thank you this. =:)
CAT ||| details not showing on the video,thats all really measure information thank you for upload that kind of video...
Thanks! great vid
Good Gracious, when was this filmed? The 50's?
Howdy!! I'm just a older dude fascinated with aviation. I have a question for either a Captain or a FO, Who is certified in CAT III landings. My question is; What is the conditions, visual criteria, and just a short explanation on why, where, and when they are performed?
Thanks for reading and hope to hear back soon!! Oh, and I also agree that these B&W traing films are the least confusing to understand.
✈✈✈✈✈
Everything you need to know about runway, taxiway, and approach-lights are right here.
#Aviation
skyyguyy It's a little obsolete. The syllabus requires more knowledge nowadays.
Roger that, but its a descent starting point.
If you're a student pilot, the only decent starting point is ICAO Annex 14 and ICAO document 9157.
palonazo Many of these configs are still being used today in both the US and UK, minus the new additions.
Primary and advanced students aren't likely to get into extra study of lighting systems, unless they have an interest in supplementing the PTS basics with additional study.
skyyguyy
Of course, some regulations haven't changed in decades. But when they do, you need to know the most current ones (word by word for the exams). Some years ago, before the change to EASA, you could study for the exams using only books. Today, for the Air Law and Operational Procedures exams, old books just aren't enough. You need to study the actual documents because questions get added to the question banks every week.
The only problem with this old instructional film, is despite there being red, green, yellow and blue lights, the film is black and white, IMHO the mental retention would be better if someone re-shot these films on video-in living color!
¡Padrísimo! What's with the haters that give thumbs down to this video?
very nice video!
My pleasure.
How did I end up here? OMG... Enough internet...
Good information but it was in black and white not color. reminds me of when I was a kid watching the box in black and white only.
Thats time pilots job was very scary comparing of today with new fly techniques
very useful
This video proves once again, you can find just about any information on UA-cam.
no PAPI light in this video =( but still great
Its so old
What's the point in different category approach lighting in reduced visibility when pilots can just follow the ILS?
sometime machines fail, and secondly not all countries or states have the financial means to upgrade their small airports to make it ILS friendly.So using simple lighting concept as guide is always a better solution.
DZEyoyo123 The category of the ILS procedure is more or less defined by the height at which you must be able to visually see the runway. If you don't actually see the runway at the defined DH (decision height), you have to go around. The higher the procedure category, the lower the RVR (runway visual range) and DH for that procedure. That's why, the greater the category, the more robust the lighting system has to be. The only hypothetical category in which lighting would be reduntant, would be CATIIIc, which has no decision height or RVR requirement but although there are runways and airplanes capable of fully automatic landing and rollout, I believe no operators, ground equipment, crew, airplanes or runways are currently certified for CATIIIc.
thank you so much
What Red? B&W film?
What is a meter?
lights for cat 3b??
CAT IIIB in 1960-ies??
Still accurate?
no for modern times. i like this video very educational. But can you recommend me any video for ILS CAT 3 B? thank you
i mean for lighting. of cat 3 bravo.
+Abishey Dean Only have those oldies...
+mitrowsky thank you.
i'm not a pilot, but as far as i know the approach lighting installation is the same for higher low vis categories up to IIIB. maybe higher light intensity or so, dont know. the main aspect when it comes to the higher categories is special pilot training and special avionics requirements for the airplane like multiple autoland systems etc.
is this the same narrator as the missile?
What year?
How old is this video?
I'm saying hwite hwat hway? Hwere do you get off?
black and whght is had to make out anything as far as light color goes. RF
Lol 420
and where are the last 900m of RW???
Ur dumb.
Must. Watch. At. 2x speed... learning all about airports just for DCS. Really a fun time. Just more research and study than flying so far. ;)
Good info, but light colors are washed out. All colors appear white or near white. No easily visible red or green or blue lights. Yes this is an old video. Has to be something better by now.
If you're planning to fly in 1964 👍
Wth.. lol when was this recorded? 😂😂😂 I can’t learn under these lighting conditions there’s no color 💀💀
Meters? lol
Mijat reko ne moze
The lack of color video back then, and use of black and white film, and the filming technique make the film seem rather flat. The style of the tutorial, you might like. But the information takeaway struggles. I would prefer a more modern version.
meters.... really.....
Runway lengths and definitions are defined in metres globally. Its an ICAO standard and has been since before this video was made.