Date: 201511
Local time of day: 1801-2400
Location: AMA.Airport, TX
Flight conditions: VMC
Light: Night
Aircraft: Medium Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Landing
ATC / advisory: Tower AMA
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Captain
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Second reporter function: Dispatcher
Anomaly: Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Landed As Precaution
Contributing factors: Procedure; Airport; Company Policy
Primary problem: Airport

Narrative: While in cruise flight; we received information from either Fort Worth or ABQ Center that all lights were out at KAMA. We discussed with Dispatch and accepted ZZZ as alternate if required. Center wasn't sure when lighting would be restored. We were tankering 6.8 with no alternate required so lots of fuel for holding. We decided to hold and wait for power to be restored. I called KAMA Tower and asked for update. They said they were working on the problem. I said we would monitor their freq and please call if things changed. We entered holding. AMA tower called us and asked what type of lighting we needed to land and said that MALSR/PAPI/Approach lights were operational; but runway edge lights were OTS. I reviewed FOM guidance. FO and I discussed guidance and made decision to make approach. Moon illumination was 77%; weather VMC unrestricted visibility with light winds. Configured and made approach. Tower controller didn't know it from his vantage point; but the runway remaining markers were also working and provided great runway edge determination. This coupled with aircraft lighting was very satisfactory and provided adequate lighting to permit a safe landing. Taxi and ramp environment were all adequately lit or back lit with no power outage at the terminal. FOM says at minimum partial runway lights are required. Are the approach lights; PAPI; or runway remaining marker lights included in the definition of runway lights or are runway lights limited to edge lights and centerline lights?


Second narrative: While enroute to AMA all the airport lights went out to service. We added an alternate and developed a diversion plan. After a few turns the crew advised they had MALSR; PAPI; and approach lights and that only edge lights were out. I replied that at minimum partial runway lights were required. The crew commenced the approach and landed. After landing; they advised they also had runway remaining marker lights. FOM says at minimum partial runway lights are required. Are the approach lights; papi; or runway remaining marker lights included in the definition of runway lights or are runway lights limited to edge lights and centerline lights?


Synopsis: While enroute at night; crew was notified that the destination airport's runway edge lights were inoperative and the runway did not have centerline lighting. In consultation with Dispatch and AMA Tower; the crew determined that sufficient partial runway lighting was available to permit approach and landing. Specifically; the runway remaining makers were illuminated and the crew determined that those provided the 'minimum partial runway lighting' required by the airline's Operating Manual.