ODALs are strobes used to locate which runway feature?

• A. Centerline
• B. Threshold
• C. Touchdown zone
• D. Runway edge lights

Answer: (A)

ODALs provide a clear visual cue to help you find and line up with the runway centerline on approach. These omnidirectional approach lights flash in a pattern along the approach path, guiding your aircraft toward the axis of the runway so you can align with the centerline as you descend. This makes them especially helpful in low visibility or at night, where pinpointing the exact centerline quickly is crucial.

Threshold lights mark the beginning of usable pavement, touchdown zone lights illuminate the first part of the runway where you land, and runway edge lights define the sides of the pavement. ODALs aren’t about marking the threshold or touchdown zone; they’re about aiding alignment with the runway’s centerline during the approach.