ARPT EQUIP PROB RWY LIGHTS.

Narrative

ON APR/MON/95; AN UNSATISFACTORY CONDITION RPT WAS SUBMITTED CONCERNING THE AUTOMATIC ACTIVATION OF AIRFIELD LIGHTING THROUGH USE OF THE CABIN'S AIRFIELD LIGHTING CTL SYS ATC COLOR CATHODE RAY TUBE. WHEN INPUTTING THE CURRENT VISIBILITY AND DAY/NIGHT CONDITION; THIS UNIT WILL AUTOMATICALLY SET THE AIRFIELD LIGHTING TO AN APPROPRIATE SETTING. HOWEVER; THE LIGHTING PANEL INSTEAD SETS THE AIRFIELD LIGHTING CONTRARY TO SETTINGS REQUIRED BY FAA HANDBOOK 7110.65 AND JFK TWR SOP; WHEN THE AUTOMATIC ACTIVATION FEATURE IS UTILIZED. ALTHOUGH THE PANEL ALLOWS THE SELECTION OF EACH LIGHTING COMPONENT MANUALLY; THIS SECOND METHOD IS CUMBERSOME AND TIME- CONSUMING; AND DISTRACTS THE USER FROM OTHER; MORE CRITICAL DUTIES (IE; CTL OF AIR TFC). MANY TWR PERSONNEL APPEAR UNAWARE THAT THE PANEL SETS THE AIRFIELD LIGHTING INCORRECTLY WHEN THE AUTOMATIC FEATURE IS USED. THIS RESULTS IN THE AIRFIELD LIGHTING BEING SET AT INTENSITIES INAPPROPRIATE FOR THE VISIBILITY AND DAY/NIGHT CONDITIONS; AND CONTRARY TO FAA AND FACILITY ORDERS. THIS COULD CONTRIBUTE TO OR CAUSE AN ACCIDENT; INCIDENT; OR RWY INCURSION. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THE PROB WAS CORRECTED IN DEC/95.