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So they pull out of the terminal (bottom left of the Google picture). They taxi up taxiway A--the one that runs behind the parking lot in that shot--and get to runway 26. In theory, there should be a sign there that says, in red with white lettering, "26", indicating they're facing runway 26. There may (I'm not sure) also be a sign there indicating that taxiway A7 continues on the other side of the runway, that's the doglegged connector between the end of runway 26 and the end of runway 22.

According to Blue Grass's listing at airnav.com, runway 04/22 (the main runway) is lit with HIRLs--high-intensity runway lights--along the edges. Runway 08/26 is lit with MIRLs--medium-intensity runway lights. *BUT*...there's a note there that says "MIRL RY 08/26 OTS INDEFLY." Meaning, the MIRLs on that runway were out of service indefinitely. I do wonder, if the lights on 08/26 were working, if the pilots might've been able to figure out that they were on a 3500-foot runway. I'm not sure if they could even gauge the runway length just from edge lights if they were sitting at one end (I'm not a pilot).

Also, I wonder something else...I'd love to hear if there was ATIS (automated terminal information service) there, and what the ATIS recording was at the time of takeoff. Crews are supposed to listen to the ATIS before taxiing out, and verify with the controller that they have the right one, as it's usually changed at least once and hour. ATIS has the weather--winds, visibility, ceilings, etc.--and it's also usually got information about the airport, like closed taxiways or runways, certain restrictions, etc. I wonder if the lighting being out of commission on 08/26 was mentioned on the ATIS.

On another board, a guy who lives in Lexington and who has flown general aviation aircraft out of that airport says that it's actually quite possible to do just what happened today and get 26 and 22 mixed up if you aren't paying attention.

}:-)4