BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE AIR FORCE ...

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AFMAN 11-217V1 3 JANUARY 2005
consists of elevated, omni-directional lights, may be installed on runways that are not
to be used under IMC due to impaired clearance, short length, or other factors.
15.4.2. Runway Centerline and Touchdown Zone Lighting. The runway centerline and
touchdown zone lighting systems are designed to facilitate landings, rollouts, and
takeoffs under adverse day and night low visibility conditions. The touchdown zone
lights, which define the touchdown area, are primarily a landing aid while the centerline
lights are most effective for rollout and takeoff.
15.4.2.1. Touchdown Zone Lighting. The touchdown zone lighting system consists
of two rows of high intensity light bars arranged on either side of the runway
centerline. Each bar consists of three unidirectional white lights toward the approach
area. The two rows of light bars are 3,000 feet long and extend from the threshold of
the runway toward the rollout end of the runway.
15.4.2.2. Runway Centerline Lighting. The runway centerline lighting system is a
straight line of lights located along the runway centerline. The system starts 75 feet
(23m) from the threshold and extends down the runway to within 75 feet of the
rollout end of the runway. The last 3,000 feet are color coded for landing rollout
information. The last 3,000-foot to 1,000-foot section displays alternate red and
white lights, while the last 1,000-foot section displays all red lights.
15.5. Runway Markings. Runway markings are designed to make the landing area more
conspicuous and to add a third dimension for night and low visibility operations. For
discussion of airport markings and signs used during ground operations, see AFI 11-218,
Aircraft Operations and Movement on the Ground. When visual contact has been
established, runway markings aid the pilot in aligning the aircraft with the runway and
determining if a safe landing is possible. Serviceable runways are marked and classified
according to the instrument approach facilities serving them. The classifications are
precision instrument runways that are served by precision approach facilities, non-precision
instrument runways to which a straight-in non-precision approach has been approved, and
basic runways that are used for visual flight operations and circling non-precision
approaches. Standard runway markings in most cases are in reflective white, while markings
of non-traffic areas, such as blast pads and overruns, are in reflective yellow.
15.5.1. Basic Runways. Basic runway markings consist of a runway direction number
and centerline marking. In addition, any of the elements of the nonprecision and
precision instrument runway markings may be used.
15.5.2. Nonprecision Instrument Runways. The markings used on nonprecision
instrument runways are the runway direction number, centerline, and threshold markings.
Additional elements of the precision instrument runway markings may be added.
15.5.3. Precision Instrument Runways. The precision instrument runway markings
consist of a runway direction number, centerline, threshold, touchdown zone, and side
stripe markings.
15.5.4. Runway Touchdown Zone Marking. The runway touchdown zone marking
pattern consists of groups of rectangular markings to outline the touchdown zone and to
provide distance coded information by means of the “3-3-2-2-1-1” marking pattern.
Groups of rectangular markings begin 500 feet from the threshold and are spaced at 500-