Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Essential Heliport Lights Installation Ideas

By Kerri Stout


Aircrafts will most likely crash or overrun the runway if there were no lighting systems in the airports. Heliport lights play the same role as those in airports but they are made specifically to be used in heliports. Some guidelines have been laid down on what kind of lights and how these light bulbs should be installed both on the helipad and the heliport whether it is on ground level or on rooftop

The landing direction for a helicopter should be indicated by the approach lighting. This gives the pilot and his team the best approach route for successful landing. The system should have three light rows that are uniformly spaced with 30 metres gap between them. An eighteen meter crossbar should be situated ninety metres away from the area of take-off and approach perimeter that is last. In 4.5 metre intervals perpendicularly bisecting the lines of approach lights are crossbar light bulbs.

Additional light bulbs can be added beyond the crossbar at intervals of 30m if the final approach needs to be made more visible. The light can either be flashing or steady whichever suits the environment best. The light should be at least 210 meters in length if the approach lighting for a non-precision final approach and take off area.

Lighting for the FATO (Final Approach and Take-Off) area should be done at the edges covering all the FATO area if it a ground level heliport. Rectangular or squarely constructed one should have at least 4 lights at the spacing of 50 meters making sure each corner has a light. Lighting for other shapes of FATO should be made at 5 meter intervals and the minimum number of light bulbs to be 10. The light should be white in color and in all directions.

Aiming lights are also required in heliports. The pilot needs guidance on how to approach the touchdown for safe landing and these lights are his or her guide. They are arranged in such a manner to form a wedge shape pointing the touchdown. 6 white light bulbs make the aiming light with a light at each of the three vertexes.

Flood light bulbs or perimeter lights form the touchdown and lift off areas. If the helipad has FATO light bulbs then there is no need to use very bright light. Instead luminescent light bulbs are used which are 1.5 metres from the touchdown area or at the edges. Within 3 metre intervals for elevated areas and 5 metres for the ground level, not less than four light bulbs are installed. They should be steady and green in color. Floodlights are installed, within an interval of not more than ten metre intervals at the floor levels.

Taxiway and apron lightings also need to be installed if they are required. They should be facing all directions made of a blue glass dome. The bulbs should be powered by a 240V AC low voltage transformer.

ICAO has set some more clear guidelines on heliport light installation which are made for your safety. The light used should have brilliancy control for use in different situations. The intensity of light need at a clear full moon light is not the same to one needed for a rainy dark night. For a save heliport all the lightings must be done at the right places using the right color of light.




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