Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Physiological - Other; Distraction
Inflight Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Environment - Non Weather Related; Airport
We flew to SUS; the weather in SUS was 1600 OVC per the ATIS; but when we got closer during the descent we saw the airport. It was clear surrounding the airport. The Pilot Monitoring mentioned that the airport was visible beyond 'those very bright lights.' I looked up and saw the airport; and indeed an area of extremely bright; white lights. Because the lights were so close to the airport; we were taken by surprise; and wondered about what that could be; and why any facility would need that many bright lights. We reported the airport in sight; and received a visual clearance from ATC. When switched to the Tower; we received a landing clearance. I engaged the APP mode; to lessen my workload; and we intercepted the final course and glideslope. When we were aligned with the runway; the full extent of those bright lights hit us. It was horrible! Completely unsafe. These lights were bright outside proportion and extremely distracting. We both commented on the brightness again; and then I briefed the Pilot Monitoring that I was going to keep my head down and inside; focused on the instruments; so that I would not have to look outside into the lights. They were interfering with my night vision and disrupting our final approach. The Pilot Monitoring kept looking outside; and he commented that the lights were so bright that they unwittingly made him look at them even though he did not want to. After we passed the area; I was finally able to look back outside at the runway. The landing was fine and uneventful. When we were taxiing I told the Pilot Monitoring that I was taking the radio for a minute. I then asked the SUS Tower if he had time for a question. I asked what the area of bright lights were; and the Tower informed us that those were the lights at a golf facility. He asked if they were distracting and we said yes; extremely so. The Tower also informed us that apparently there were multiple reports filed on this. So obviously we were not the only ones bothered by those lights.Something has to be done about this. It is surprising to me that such a facility was allowed to be build right in the final flight path. The lights are extremely distracting. They interfere with the night vision; they interfere with the safety of flight itself. Because in our case we were discussing the lights and their location and we briefed how we were going to proceed; at a phase of flight where we are not even supposed to be speaking unless it's SOP. The flight conditions were VMC; but I wonder on a night where there is fog; or a very low ceiling; how the light will break through the moisture and reflect in the cockpit. In our opinion these lights are dangerous and could potentially lead to worse distraction.
Corporate Jet Captain reported the lights from a Golf Range on short final were very distracting and unsafe.