Answer :
Final answer:
Runway identifier lights confirm runway designation to pilots, which is crucial for safe aircraft operations. Wind direction is a critical factor in airport design, affecting runway orientation to ensure pilots can take off and land into the wind for shorter ground roll and increased safety.
Explanation:
The primary purpose of runway identifier lights, installed at many airfields, is to provide confirmation of runway designation to approaching aircraft (answer d). These lights are essential for helping pilots identify the correct runway, especially during night operations or inclement weather where visibility is reduced. They do not provide directional guidance to taxiing aircraft, identify the runway threshold, nor illuminate runway edges -- these functions are served by other types of airport lighting systems, such as taxiway lights, threshold lights, and runway edge lights, respectively.
Understanding the importance of wind direction in airport design is crucial as wind significantly impacts aircraft during take-offs and landings. Pilots always aim to take off and land into the wind to reduce the ground roll distance and facilitate safer operations. This fundamental principle influences how runways are aligned at an airport, considering the prevailing winds of the area.
