Narrative:

While flying at night on february 2015 to clt; the clt approach controller advised us that the clt runway 5 precision approach path indicator (PAPI) lights were inoperative. The approach controller also advised us that there were some red lights on the ground to the left of runway 5; past taxiway foxtrot; that had the appearance of PAPI lights. He advised us to ignore these lights. We were glad that the controller briefed us in advance of this issue. As we flew our visual approach; backed up by the runway 5 ILS; we noticed four distinct red lights situated in a horizontal line to the left of the touchdown zone. The lights appeared to be PAPI lights (from left to right) in the red; red; red; red configuration ('red on white you're all right; red on red pilot is dead.'). We confirmed that we were on the glidepath all the way to touchdown using the ILS. However; the optical illusion of the four red lights (looked exactly like four red PAPI lights) caught our attention as we flew the approach. Ignoring these four red lights was good advice from the approach controller. However; doing so was like someone saying; 'trust me; ignore the red traffic lights ahead; proceed through the intersection without regard for those red traffic lights.' flying an approach at night with what appears to be four red PAPI lights goes against everything a pilot is trained 'not to do.' after landing; we began our taxi to the gate and noticed a grouping of what appeared to be many temporary red lights in a construction zone in an area between runway 5; taxiway foxtrot; taxiway mike; and taxiway mike 2. On the ground the red lights took on a whole different appearance. They did not look at all like PAPI lights; just a random grouping of red lights. Somehow; when viewing the lights during an approach to runway 5; these lights look exactly like four red PAPI lights. I recommend that these lights be shielded or blocked in some way so that pilots making the approach to clt runway 5 do not mistake the red construction lights for PAPI lights.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CLT TRACON alerted a flight crew that red airport lights to the left of Runway 5 appeared as false PAPI lights which at the time was inoperative.

Narrative: While flying at night on February 2015 to CLT; the CLT Approach Controller advised us that the CLT Runway 5 Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI) lights were inoperative. The Approach Controller also advised us that there were some red lights on the ground to the left of Runway 5; past Taxiway Foxtrot; that had the appearance of PAPI lights. He advised us to ignore these lights. We were glad that the Controller briefed us in advance of this issue. As we flew our visual approach; backed up by the Runway 5 ILS; we noticed four distinct red lights situated in a horizontal line to the left of the touchdown zone. The lights appeared to be PAPI lights (from left to right) in the red; red; red; red configuration ('RED on WHITE you're all right; RED on RED Pilot is dead.'). We confirmed that we were on the glidepath all the way to touchdown using the ILS. However; the optical illusion of the four red lights (looked exactly like four red PAPI lights) caught our attention as we flew the approach. Ignoring these four red lights was good advice from the Approach Controller. However; doing so was like someone saying; 'Trust me; ignore the red traffic lights ahead; proceed through the intersection without regard for those red traffic lights.' Flying an approach at night with what appears to be four red PAPI lights goes against everything a Pilot is trained 'not to do.' After landing; we began our taxi to the gate and noticed a grouping of what appeared to be many temporary red lights in a construction zone in an area between Runway 5; Taxiway Foxtrot; Taxiway Mike; and Taxiway Mike 2. On the ground the red lights took on a whole different appearance. They did not look at all like PAPI lights; just a random grouping of red lights. Somehow; when viewing the lights during an approach to Runway 5; these lights look exactly like four red PAPI lights. I recommend that these lights be shielded or blocked in some way so that Pilots making the approach to CLT Runway 5 do not mistake the red construction lights for PAPI lights.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.