John Mazor wrote:

"Sam Spade" wrote in message
news:UOSWg.32348$tO5.22560@fed1read10...

Beavis wrote:

In article 0wDWg.32302$tO5.12002@fed1read10,
Sam Spade wrote:


Runway edge lights, unlike CL lights, are mandatory for a night takeoff
under Part 121.

Not at my Part 121 airline.

From our FAA-approved manual: "Runway lighting is required by FAR 121.97
for takeoff or landing at night. Centerline lights are considered
adequate in the event that the runway edge lights are inoperative."

That is an authorized substitution. It doesn't changed 121.97.


That's actually wrong. FAR 121.97 says *nothing* about forbidding runway
ops on an unlighted runway. Nor have I found any FAR that does that.
121.97 goes to operator requirements WRT airports and disseminating
information on them to their flight crews.

An airline's FOM might forbid using unlit runways, but there's no
requirement that such a rule be included in its FOM.


Oh there isn't? What about 121.590 (d) (2) (i) and (ii)? Bevis'
carrier elected to tie the reference of their ops specs authorization to
substitute CLs for RLs to 121.97, which is fine from a regulatory
standpoint, because 121.97 is subject to 121.590.

I cite the pertinent requirements from 121.50. Note in particular (d) (2).

§ 121.590 Use of certificated land airports in the United States.
(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) or (c) of this section, or
unless authorized by the Administrator under 49 U.S.C. 44706(c), no air
carrier and no pilot being used by an air carrier may operate, in the
conduct of a domestic type operation, flag type operation, or
supplemental type operation, an airplane at a land airport in any State
of the United States, the District of Columbia, or any territory or
possession of the United States unless that airport is certificated
under part 139 of this chapter. Further, after June 9, 2005 for Class I
airports and after December 9, 2005 for Class II, III, and IV airports,
when an air carrier and a pilot being used by the air carrier are
required to operate at an airport certificated under part 139 of this
chapter, the air carrier and the pilot may only operate at that airport
if the airport is classified under part 139 to serve the type airplane
to be operated and the type of operation to be conducted.

(d)....

(2) For an airplane carrying passengers at night, the pilot may not take
off from, or land at, an airport unless--
(i) The pilot has determined the wind direction from an illuminated wind
direction indicator or local ground communications or, in the case of
takeoff, that pilot's personal observations; and
(ii) The limits of the area to be used for landing or takeoff are
clearly shown by boundary or runway marker lights. If the area to be
used for takeoff or landing is marked by flare pots or lanterns, their
use must be authorized by the Administrator.