Narrative:

Please keep in mind that I and others have talked to the airport owner/operator about this issue several times with no correction of the problem. At ledgedale airpark (7g0), the pilot controlled lighting is synchronized with the airport beacon. The beacon is set to go on with a light sensor at dusk. This change was made when the new runway was opened for service. As I understand, there was some interference from other planes turning the lights on during the day and, of course, expense was involved. The problem now is that the sensor for the beacon is set so that the beacon does not go on until it is very dark dusk. This has become a safety hazard for landing. Our approach on jun/mon/02 XB25 hours was almost too dark. We should not have to fly around until the beacon goes on in order to activate the runway lights. If the sensor is only set to go on 10 mins sooner, all would be well. About 2 mins after we landed, the beacon went on. Sunset was reported as XA45 hours on jun/mon/02. Because the runway is new, it is very black and becomes hard to see in late dusk. The taxiway, being old, is quite visible. If someone needs to land, they will be hard pressed to find the runway and if they mistake the taxiway, an incursion could be very probable. I strongly feel that we have a real safety issue here. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated that 2 days after her report was submitted, airport management readjusted the light sensor on the rotating beacon. It now comes on before 'dark' and operates until after daylight. The pilot considers the problem solved.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 PLT INDICATES THAT PLT CTLED RWY LIGHTS ARE PREVENTED FROM COMING ON UNTIL THE ROTATING BEACON COMES ON.

Narrative: PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT I AND OTHERS HAVE TALKED TO THE ARPT OWNER/OPERATOR ABOUT THIS ISSUE SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO CORRECTION OF THE PROB. AT LEDGEDALE AIRPARK (7G0), THE PLT CONTROLLED LIGHTING IS SYNCHRONIZED WITH THE ARPT BEACON. THE BEACON IS SET TO GO ON WITH A LIGHT SENSOR AT DUSK. THIS CHANGE WAS MADE WHEN THE NEW RWY WAS OPENED FOR SVC. AS I UNDERSTAND, THERE WAS SOME INTERFERENCE FROM OTHER PLANES TURNING THE LIGHTS ON DURING THE DAY AND, OF COURSE, EXPENSE WAS INVOLVED. THE PROB NOW IS THAT THE SENSOR FOR THE BEACON IS SET SO THAT THE BEACON DOES NOT GO ON UNTIL IT IS VERY DARK DUSK. THIS HAS BECOME A SAFETY HAZARD FOR LNDG. OUR APCH ON JUN/MON/02 XB25 HRS WAS ALMOST TOO DARK. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO FLY AROUND UNTIL THE BEACON GOES ON IN ORDER TO ACTIVATE THE RWY LIGHTS. IF THE SENSOR IS ONLY SET TO GO ON 10 MINS SOONER, ALL WOULD BE WELL. ABOUT 2 MINS AFTER WE LANDED, THE BEACON WENT ON. SUNSET WAS RPTED AS XA45 HRS ON JUN/MON/02. BECAUSE THE RWY IS NEW, IT IS VERY BLACK AND BECOMES HARD TO SEE IN LATE DUSK. THE TXWY, BEING OLD, IS QUITE VISIBLE. IF SOMEONE NEEDS TO LAND, THEY WILL BE HARD PRESSED TO FIND THE RWY AND IF THEY MISTAKE THE TXWY, AN INCURSION COULD BE VERY PROBABLE. I STRONGLY FEEL THAT WE HAVE A REAL SAFETY ISSUE HERE. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THAT 2 DAYS AFTER HER RPT WAS SUBMITTED, ARPT MGMNT READJUSTED THE LIGHT SENSOR ON THE ROTATING BEACON. IT NOW COMES ON BEFORE 'DARK' AND OPERATES UNTIL AFTER DAYLIGHT. THE PLT CONSIDERS THE PROB SOLVED.

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.