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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

Approach lighting should be installed to indicate the best approach direction for a landing helicopter. The light guides the pilot on the desirable approach he or she should approach the heliport. This lighting system should have uniformly space three rows of light. The spacing between them should thirty meters. A crossbar18 meters long should be located 90 meters from the take off area and the final approach perimeter. The crossbar lights are put in such a way that they perpendicularly bisect the approach light lines in intervals of 4.5 meters.

Beyond the crossbar more light can be added for better visibility of the final approach at 30 meters intervals but this should be done only where it is required. Depending on the environment the heliport is located, the lights can be made steady or flashing. The length of the light for a non-precision final approach and take off area should be at a minimum of 210 meters

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.

Touchdown and lift-off area light bulbs should consist of perimeter or flood light bulbs. If FATO lights are available luminescent panel light bulbs are used. They are place at the edge or 1.5m from the touchdown area. At least 4 lights on each side at 3m interval for elevated and 5m interval for ground heliport should be installed. The color of these light bulbs should be green and they are set to be steady. Floodlights are place on floor level at a maximum of 10m spacing.

The system will not be complete without taxiway and apron lightings. They are blue in color and omni-directional. A 240V low voltage transformer is used to power them.

Heliport light installation guidelines can be found from ICAO. The brilliancy of the light should adjustable to control light intensity in different weather conditions. Lightings should be done correctly in heliports for safety purposes.




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