Episode Details

Ever wondered about the giant light arrays stretching out from runways? This episode explores approach lighting systems — the high-intensity, redundantly-powered beacons that guide pilots through fog and darkness. From their origins in 1920s airmail routes to the engineered precision of modern ALSF-2 systems, we cover the history, the physics, and the jaw-dropping construction challenges — including airports like JFK that build light jetties out into the ocean.