Narrative:

An unsafe condition exists at pueblo with the remote control field lighting which operates on the CTAF of 119.1 which is in operation when the control tower is closed. 3 clicks for step one, 5 clicks for step two, 7 clicks for step three, however 6 clicks will turn the lights (runway, approach and taxiway) off. With this setup the possibility exists that an inbound aircraft could unknowingly turn the lights off with an aircraft on final approach which would create a very dangerous situation. The lights should not have the capability to be turned off and should time out at least 15 mins after they are first activated. The aim para 47C states, 'all lighting is illuminated for a period of 15 mins from the most recent time of activation and may not be extinguished prior to end of the 15 min period (except for 1-STEP and 2-STEP REIL's which may be turned off when desired by keying the microphone 5 or 3 times respectively)'. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: we in the tower have discussed the situation. We have air carriers who land here at night after the tower closes. Someone could inadvertently hit 6 clicks and turn off the landing lights just when they are most needed. If one is going to 7 clocks one must make the clicks in rapid sequence to avoid turning off the lights. Airport manager is aware of the situation.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT CONTROLLED ARPT LIGHTING TURNS OFF WITH 6 CLOCKS ON 119 PT 1 KC. AIM CALLS FOR TIMING OF 15 MINUTES AFTER TURN ON BEFORE TURNING OFF.

Narrative: AN UNSAFE CONDITION EXISTS AT PUEBLO WITH THE REMOTE CONTROL FIELD LIGHTING WHICH OPERATES ON THE CTAF OF 119.1 WHICH IS IN OPERATION WHEN THE CTL TWR IS CLOSED. 3 CLICKS FOR STEP ONE, 5 CLICKS FOR STEP TWO, 7 CLICKS FOR STEP THREE, HOWEVER 6 CLICKS WILL TURN THE LIGHTS (RWY, APCH AND TXWY) OFF. WITH THIS SETUP THE POSSIBILITY EXISTS THAT AN INBND ACFT COULD UNKNOWINGLY TURN THE LIGHTS OFF WITH AN ACFT ON FINAL APCH WHICH WOULD CREATE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE LIGHTS SHOULD NOT HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO BE TURNED OFF AND SHOULD TIME OUT AT LEAST 15 MINS AFTER THEY ARE FIRST ACTIVATED. THE AIM PARA 47C STATES, 'ALL LIGHTING IS ILLUMINATED FOR A PERIOD OF 15 MINS FROM THE MOST RECENT TIME OF ACTIVATION AND MAY NOT BE EXTINGUISHED PRIOR TO END OF THE 15 MIN PERIOD (EXCEPT FOR 1-STEP AND 2-STEP REIL'S WHICH MAY BE TURNED OFF WHEN DESIRED BY KEYING THE MIKE 5 OR 3 TIMES RESPECTIVELY)'. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH REPORTER REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: WE IN THE TWR HAVE DISCUSSED THE SITUATION. WE HAVE AIR CARRIERS WHO LAND HERE AT NIGHT AFTER THE TWR CLOSES. SOMEONE COULD INADVERTENTLY HIT 6 CLICKS AND TURN OFF THE LNDG LIGHTS JUST WHEN THEY ARE MOST NEEDED. IF ONE IS GOING TO 7 CLOCKS ONE MUST MAKE THE CLICKS IN RAPID SEQUENCE TO AVOID TURNING OFF THE LIGHTS. ARPT MGR IS AWARE OF THE SITUATION.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.