What configuration of lights extends from the runway threshold into the approach area?

The configuration of lights that extends from the runway threshold into the approach area is the approach lights. These lights are specifically designed to provide visual guidance to pilots during the landing phase of an aircraft’s flight. They serve as an important aid for pilots by helping them align their approach path to the runway, especially in conditions of limited visibility.

Approach lights typically feature a pattern that can include a combination of fixed and flashing lights, often arranged in a way that guides the flying aircraft down to the runway. They are positioned on the extended centerline of the runway and can assist with both visual and instrument landing approaches, marking the transition from the air to the ground for landing aircraft.

Other lighting configurations, such as taxiway lights, landing lights, and runway edge lights, serve different purposes in the airport environment. Taxiway lights are used for guiding aircraft on taxiways, runway edge lights outline the runway's edges for boundary identification, and landing lights are specifically mounted on aircraft to illuminate the runway during landing but do not extend into the approach area.