Narrative:

Upon taxi out for takeoff at XX19 EDT (official sunset occurred at XX04E) tower advised me that the runway lights were out of service. WX was clear and sufficient adequate daylight remained to clearly see the runway and entire airport. At XX28E I cleared myself for takeoff after tower reported the runway was clear, but they were not permitted to clear me for takeoff with no runway lights. No conflicts or unusual events occurred. I felt that the tower controller should have been permitted more authority in determining whether adequate daylight prevailed in actual conditions rather than applying arbitrary cutoff time which covers the most stringent condition which might occur.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT CREW OF MLG TOOK OFF SAV AFTER OFFICIAL SUNSET WITH RWY LIGHTS INOPERATIVE.

Narrative: UPON TAXI OUT FOR TKOF AT XX19 EDT (OFFICIAL SUNSET OCCURRED AT XX04E) TWR ADVISED ME THAT THE RWY LIGHTS WERE OUT OF SERVICE. WX WAS CLEAR AND SUFFICIENT ADEQUATE DAYLIGHT REMAINED TO CLEARLY SEE THE RWY AND ENTIRE ARPT. AT XX28E I CLRED MYSELF FOR TKOF AFTER TWR REPORTED THE RWY WAS CLEAR, BUT THEY WERE NOT PERMITTED TO CLEAR ME FOR TKOF WITH NO RWY LIGHTS. NO CONFLICTS OR UNUSUAL EVENTS OCCURRED. I FELT THAT THE TWR CTLR SHOULD HAVE BEEN PERMITTED MORE AUTHORITY IN DETERMINING WHETHER ADEQUATE DAYLIGHT PREVAILED IN ACTUAL CONDITIONS RATHER THAN APPLYING ARBITRARY CUTOFF TIME WHICH COVERS THE MOST STRINGENT CONDITION WHICH MIGHT OCCUR.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.