Narrative:

Arriving ilm after tower closed with northeast winds about 8 KTS, no approach is available for runways 6/24. After flying over the field and attempting to activate the runway lights, the only lights visible were the approach lights to runway 35 ILS. The preferred was runway 17/35 -- the one with an instrument approach, not an unfamiliar runway at night with the tower closed. We lined up on ILS runway 35 with the approach lights bright and the VASI available. Thinking the runway edge lights were dim, we had almost touched down when we realized the runway edge lights were not dim but not on. Seeing the runway clearly with our landing lights we elected to land, that being the safest option at that point. The next day we found that the wind favorable runway is the only runway with the runway lights left on when the tower closes. In our case runway 6/24 with no instrument approach available was the only runway that could be pilot controled, although the approach lights for ILS runway 35 could be controled. If the WX deteriorates, no landing lights are available for the only runway with an instrument approach. Also, circling approachs are not permitted unless the WX is better than 1000 ft 3 mi. Not being proficient in circling approachs is a good reason to prefer an instrument approach, especially at night. Ilm should have pilot controled lighting for all runways. Callback conversation with an ilm airport official revealed the following information: when the tower closes at 2300 ft, runway 17/35 is the only runway with remote controled lighting. Activating the system is accomplished by tuning in the tower frequency and keying the microphone. 3 clicks of the microphone will bring the HIRL to a #3 intensity. Keying a 4TH and 5TH time steps up the intensity, with #5 being the highest. Further keying of the microphone does not increase the intensity further nor does it turn the lights off. It was also explained that in addition to runway 17/35 HIRL coming on, the MALSR to runway 35, the REIL for runway 24, and taxiway a lights are also illuminated. The VASI for runways 6, 24, and 17, along with the PAPI to runway 35 are on continuously. The lights automatically extinguish 15 mins after the first keying of the microphone. Relighting is accomplished by starting the process over again. When WX dictates, runway 6/24 HIRL will be turned on by tower personnel. Lighting operation is checked daily by maintenance.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-300 CREW, AFTER LNDG AT ILM, REALIZED THE HIRL FOR RWY 35-17 WAS NOT ILLUMINATED.

Narrative: ARRIVING ILM AFTER TWR CLOSED WITH NE WINDS ABOUT 8 KTS, NO APCH IS AVAILABLE FOR RWYS 6/24. AFTER FLYING OVER THE FIELD AND ATTEMPTING TO ACTIVATE THE RWY LIGHTS, THE ONLY LIGHTS VISIBLE WERE THE APCH LIGHTS TO RWY 35 ILS. THE PREFERRED WAS RWY 17/35 -- THE ONE WITH AN INST APCH, NOT AN UNFAMILIAR RWY AT NIGHT WITH THE TWR CLOSED. WE LINED UP ON ILS RWY 35 WITH THE APCH LIGHTS BRIGHT AND THE VASI AVAILABLE. THINKING THE RWY EDGE LIGHTS WERE DIM, WE HAD ALMOST TOUCHED DOWN WHEN WE REALIZED THE RWY EDGE LIGHTS WERE NOT DIM BUT NOT ON. SEEING THE RWY CLRLY WITH OUR LNDG LIGHTS WE ELECTED TO LAND, THAT BEING THE SAFEST OPTION AT THAT POINT. THE NEXT DAY WE FOUND THAT THE WIND FAVORABLE RWY IS THE ONLY RWY WITH THE RWY LIGHTS LEFT ON WHEN THE TWR CLOSES. IN OUR CASE RWY 6/24 WITH NO INST APCH AVAILABLE WAS THE ONLY RWY THAT COULD BE PLT CTLED, ALTHOUGH THE APCH LIGHTS FOR ILS RWY 35 COULD BE CTLED. IF THE WX DETERIORATES, NO LNDG LIGHTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE ONLY RWY WITH AN INST APCH. ALSO, CIRCLING APCHS ARE NOT PERMITTED UNLESS THE WX IS BETTER THAN 1000 FT 3 MI. NOT BEING PROFICIENT IN CIRCLING APCHS IS A GOOD REASON TO PREFER AN INST APCH, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. ILM SHOULD HAVE PLT CTLED LIGHTING FOR ALL RWYS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH AN ILM ARPT OFFICIAL REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: WHEN THE TWR CLOSES AT 2300 FT, RWY 17/35 IS THE ONLY RWY WITH REMOTE CTLED LIGHTING. ACTIVATING THE SYS IS ACCOMPLISHED BY TUNING IN THE TWR FREQ AND KEYING THE MIKE. 3 CLICKS OF THE MIKE WILL BRING THE HIRL TO A #3 INTENSITY. KEYING A 4TH AND 5TH TIME STEPS UP THE INTENSITY, WITH #5 BEING THE HIGHEST. FURTHER KEYING OF THE MIKE DOES NOT INCREASE THE INTENSITY FURTHER NOR DOES IT TURN THE LIGHTS OFF. IT WAS ALSO EXPLAINED THAT IN ADDITION TO RWY 17/35 HIRL COMING ON, THE MALSR TO RWY 35, THE REIL FOR RWY 24, AND TXWY A LIGHTS ARE ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE VASI FOR RWYS 6, 24, AND 17, ALONG WITH THE PAPI TO RWY 35 ARE ON CONTINUOUSLY. THE LIGHTS AUTOMATICALLY EXTINGUISH 15 MINS AFTER THE FIRST KEYING OF THE MIKE. RELIGHTING IS ACCOMPLISHED BY STARTING THE PROCESS OVER AGAIN. WHEN WX DICTATES, RWY 6/24 HIRL WILL BE TURNED ON BY TWR PERSONNEL. LIGHTING OP IS CHKED DAILY BY MAINT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.