Types of Airfield Lighting Systems

Posted by JamesPark493 on April 8th, 2016

t airports, you might have seen different types of lights or lighting systems, such as flashing white, pulsating yellow, steady red and blue lights. Not all airports lights are intended for illumination. Some lights are also installed to give signals to the pilots, airfield staff and passengers. Airport lights can be broadly categorized into general airport lighting, taxiway lighting, runway lighting, and approach light systems.

General Airport Lighting
These lights are airport beacons. Visible from miles, airport beacons are powerful rotating lights typically mounted on the top of towers and airport buildings. These lights can be used at public as well as military airports, and can rotate green and white. These lights are easily identifiable at night from the ground and high altitudes. When navigating at night, pilots can identify an airport from its beacon. Sometimes, air traffic controllers can turn the beacon on and off as required. High-rise buildings and towers at the airfield have small, steady red beacons on the top to help low-flying aircraft avoid collision.

Taxiway Lights
Taxiway lights can be further subdivided into four major categories: taxiway edge lights, clearance bar lights, stop bar lights, and runway guard lights. Taxiway edge lights generally come in blue and green colors. They are typically installed in a straight line alongside the taxiways. When talking about clearance bar lights, they are steady yellow and are intended to increase the visibility of a hold line or a taxiway intersection at night. Stop bar lights, on the other hand, are meant to reinforce an ATC clearance to cross or enter a runway in low visibility environments. They are in-pavement lights that extend across the taxiway at a hold short line. Runway guard lights are a set of two steady yellow lights. These lights are positioned at each side of the taxiway at the hold short line (an area where a taxiway meets the runway). They draw attention to the hold short line.

Runway Lights
Runway lights include a set of end identifier lights (REIL), edge light systems (HIRL/MIRL/LIRL), centerline lighting systems (RCSL), touchdown zone lights (TDZL), runway status lights (RWSL), etc.

Airport lights or lighting systems are important for aircraft operation at night. If you are looking for efficient airport lighting solutions, contact an airfield lighting contractor in Charleston, SC. Airfield lighting contractors specialize in offering comprehensive lighting solutions. They can be hired for installation, repair and maintenance of airport lighting systems.

Author’s bio- Author of this article is successfully engaged in offering airport lighting services.