2006-01 · NASA ASRS report 686385
MLG PLT RPTS BOS GUARD LIGHTS ARE ON ONLY DURING LOW VIS CONDITIONS. PLT SUGGESTS CONTINUOUS USAGE FOR RWY INCURSION PREVENTION.
BOS TWR HAS DECIDED TO FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATION OF AN ADVISORY PANEL WHO RECOMMENDED LEAVING THE AMBER 'WIG-WAG' LIGHTS (PULSING) THAT ALERT PLTS THAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO CROSS AN ACTIVE RWY OFF! THEIR ONLY EXCEPTION IS DURING REDUCED VISIBILITY. THEIR RATIONALE IS THAT SINCE THEY DON'T HAVE THEM INSTALLED ON EVERY TXWY WE MIGHT USE THEM AS A CRUTCH. THOSE INDIVIDUALS HAVE OBVIOUSLY NOT WORKED A 14 HOUR; 6 LEG DAY; WHEN YOU'RE ALMOST NUMB AND NEED EVERY AID IN THE BOOK TO PREVENT A RWY INCURSION. IRONICALLY; BOS HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATES FOR THIS IN THE COUNTRY. MOST MAJOR ARPTS LEAVE THEM ON 24/7 EVEN IF THEY DON'T HAVE THEM INSTALLED ON EVERY TXWY THAT CROSSES A RWY. PHL IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE. DESPITE BOS'S STATED POLICY; TODAY AT XA30 (TOTALLY DARK) WITH 2 MILE VISIBILITY IN FOG; TWR REFUSED TO TURN THEM ON. WE NEED A NATIONAL STANDARD MANDATING THAT ALL AVAILABLE WIG-WAG LIGHTS BE TURNED ON 24/7.CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: PLT STATED HE HAS SPOKEN WITH HIS ACR CHIEF PLT ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND HAS NOT GOTTEN ANY SATISFACTION ABOUT THE LIGHT'S VALUE. AS AN INTERESTED PARTY; THE RPTR SAID THE HE HAS ATTENDED THE ARPT MEETINGS WHERE LIGHTING WAS DISCUSSED AND IS SURPRISED BY THE LACK OF UNDERSTAND AMONG THOSE IN ATTENDANCE OF THE LIGHTING SYSTEM'S VALUE.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.
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