PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 211; Flight Crew Total 771; Flight Crew Type 743
Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Other / Unknown
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert
Human Factors
I was doing a night VFR cross country to PBI with a part-141 student... My student used SUA as a checkpoint. Upon arriving over SUA; the airport was dark with no runway lights on. I used the pilot controlled lighting frequency and activated the runway lights to high intensity to show my student where SUA was as he could not find it... PBI approach then asked me if I was the one who turned on the runway lighting (SUA was asking PBI approach)... I was un-aware that SUA increased their operational hours to [later in the evening]. I admitted that it was me. I was then told my PBI tower that I was given a possible pilot deviation for said action of turning on the runway lights @ SUA. I then called SUA and proceeded to talk with them. We had a discussion and was told that no action would be taken and that they would appreciate if it was not done again. I can understand the possible consequences that could result of turning on the runway lights at both a controlled/uncontrolled airport at night without listening in on the frequency first to determine traffic status... I should also consult the AFD before turning on the runway lights at a controlled airport to verify operational time.
A flight instructor reported comments by ATC after he had activated the airport lighting while flying overhead as this could impact other traffic.