Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear
Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 5; Flight Crew Total 1985
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Ground Equipment Issue
General None Reported / Taken
Airport
After landing at CBF the airport manager approached and asked about turning on the PCL [Pilot Controlled Lighting] lighting. Airport manager stated that it was very expensive for airport lights to be turned on and asked if local pilots and flight instructors could be coached on not turning the lights on so much during the day and at night when not necessary. It was explained to airport manager that turning on the lights is at the pilots discretion and a potential safety issue and asking them to try to monitor turning runway lights on and off to help airport control their electric expenses seemed as counter to safe operations of aircraft.
Pilot reported Airport Manager's request to ask pilots to avoid using pilot controlled lighting due to cost.