Certified Flight Instructor - Flight Instructor Airplane Practice Exam

An airport has pilot controlled lighting but runways without approach lights. How many times should you key your microphone to turn on the MIRL at medium intensity?

1. 5 clicks.

2. 3 clicks.

3. None, the MIRL is left on all night.

4. 1 click.

The correct answer is: 5 clicks.

To activate Medium Intensity Runway Lights (MIRL) at an airport with pilot-controlled lighting, the standard protocol is to key the microphone a specific number of times to turn the lights on and select the desired intensity. For medium intensity, pilots are required to key their microphone five times. This sequence allows the pilot to not only turn the lights on but also sets them to the medium brightness level, which is essential for visibility during takeoff or landing at the airport, especially in conditions where natural light may be insufficient. Knowing the correct number of clicks is critical for operational safety, as it ensures that the runway lighting is properly adjusted based on the current needs of the flight. It's important to note that there are different requirements depending on the type of lighting system in place. In cases where runways are equipped with approach lights, they may have different activation procedures. However, in this scenario, with runways lacking approach lights and relying solely on MIRL, five clicks is the specific action needed to achieve the medium intensity setting.