Narrative:

Taxiing in after landing, I noticed that on taxiway P at the intersection of runway 4/22 that the yellow runway guard in-pavement flashing lights were not working. I asked ground control why they were not on and the controller said that, because airline X will not cross the guard light without a verbal verification (even in airline X's aircraft is cleared to cross the runway, the flight departments policy requires a radio call), which was becoming a problem for the controllers at bwi, they turned them off and do not use them! I thought these lights were installed to prevent runway incursions! I guess that the air carrier who questions operation at bwi dictates what safety measures will be used. The intersection at taxiway P and runway 4/22 is a difficult one to see day or night (can be seen by the number of skid marks in the area of the runway 22 hold line and taxiway P) and the lights should be on day or night!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MD80 PLT QUESTIONS OP(S) OF IN-SURFACE TXWY CAUTION LIGHTS AT BWI.

Narrative: TAXIING IN AFTER LNDG, I NOTICED THAT ON TXWY P AT THE INTXN OF RWY 4/22 THAT THE YELLOW RWY GUARD IN-PAVEMENT FLASHING LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. I ASKED GND CTL WHY THEY WERE NOT ON AND THE CTLR SAID THAT, BECAUSE AIRLINE X WILL NOT CROSS THE GUARD LIGHT WITHOUT A VERBAL VERIFICATION (EVEN IN AIRLINE X'S ACFT IS CLRED TO CROSS THE RWY, THE FLT DEPTS POLICY REQUIRES A RADIO CALL), WHICH WAS BECOMING A PROB FOR THE CTLRS AT BWI, THEY TURNED THEM OFF AND DO NOT USE THEM! I THOUGHT THESE LIGHTS WERE INSTALLED TO PREVENT RWY INCURSIONS! I GUESS THAT THE ACR WHO QUESTIONS OP AT BWI DICTATES WHAT SAFETY MEASURES WILL BE USED. THE INTXN AT TXWY P AND RWY 4/22 IS A DIFFICULT ONE TO SEE DAY OR NIGHT (CAN BE SEEN BY THE NUMBER OF SKID MARKS IN THE AREA OF THE RWY 22 HOLD LINE AND TXWY P) AND THE LIGHTS SHOULD BE ON DAY OR NIGHT!

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.