How can airport lights be activated at night?

Airport lights at night can typically be activated by using the UNICOM frequency or a designated communication frequency for that particular airport. This option allows pilots, especially at non-towered airports, to communicate their need for lighting to the airport’s lighting system. Pilots can make a radio call to request the lights be turned on, and often, the lights will be activated for a specific time period, allowing for safe landing and taxiing.

The other methods listed are not standard practices for activating airport lights at night. Typically, controlled towers do not directly manage light activation requests from pilots in this manner, as most operations at smaller or non-towered airports rely on UNICOM communications. While there may be buttons or controls in a control tower for staff to manage the lights, those are not accessible to pilots in their aircraft. Similarly, using a special lever or control in the cockpit is not a standard method for activating airport lighting. Understanding these systems is critical for safely navigating and ensuring visibility during night operations.