Airfield lighting equipment: types, placement and purpose

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Safe landing or takeoff of air transport is currently accepted to be provided with a whole range of protective preventive measures, one of which is the presence of lighting equipment on each runway of the aerodrome. The devices show themselves most effectively when performing operations at night, at dusk, or under conditions of poor horizontal and vertical visibility.

Main types of MTRs

These primarily include the so-called OMI and JVI. The former stand for low intensity lights and serve for the landing of aircraft, the maneuver of which is not included in any category, while the latter imply high intensity and are switched on during similar operations of category I, II or III. JVI is usually represented by a white light strip. The length of such gates can reach 500-700 meters. The main purpose of these signals is to warn the pilot of the aircraft in a timely manner, which in this way can visually control the positionown ship relative to the runway.

The end of the runway is usually indicated by a continuous line of green lights. They are located on the threshold of the strip and are located at an angle of 90 degrees to the white gates laid along. The runway may also have other aerodrome lighting equipment. In particular, the center line of the strip is equipped with white lights, and its edges with yellow. To simplify the visual contact of the pilot with the runway surface, all signals are placed in a clear sequence.

Composition and characteristics of the MTR

The system consists of three main parts listed below.

1. Remote control devices. KDU serves to control the movement of aircraft on the ground and in the air. For this, certain groups of lights are used, activated from their workplace by the engineer on duty, as well as by one or more dispatchers.
2. Airfield lighting equipment, including wind direction and intensity indicators, recessed and elevated lights, as well as passive and active signs.
3. System power supply equipment. This set of equipment includes elements such as a cable network, transformers and switchgears, backup switchboard units, thyristor dimmers (TRYA), as well as uninterrupted power supply panels (SHP), control panels and power panels.

The performance of an aerodrome lighting system depends on the type in question. For JVI, lamps with a power of 150 to 200 W are used.with a light intensity of at least 10 thousand candelas, for OMI the lamp power does not exceed 100 W, and the light intensity is 10 thousand candelas.

Purpose and tasks to be performed

If we take a closer look at the benefits of using modern systems, then it lies in several points at once:

• increases the overall class of the airport as an object;
• the indicator of the meteorological minimum of the aerodrome is decreasing;
• improving flight safety;
• the category of the aerodrome where aircraft take off and land is being raised.

The range of tasks performed depends on the specific part of the MTR. For example, the airfield lighting equipment is designed to provide clear and visible contact between aircraft pilots and the runway surface, that is, the entire area of the landing area. It also increases the level of safety in case of insufficient visibility or night procedures on the runway. Signals and other lighting equipment operate in the area of heliports, airfields, as well as helipads and landing sites.

Power supply units provide a full guarantee of stationary and autonomous power supply for all control systems and SSO. In addition, they are able, if necessary, to adjust the brightness of individual lighting elements. In this case, the remote control equipment is the main node, with the help of which operators and engineers control the remaining parts.

Description of I and II categories of MTR

There is an international classification of all systems of lighting equipment called ICAO. The division of obstruction lights is made according to the weather conditions under which one or another of them can be used.

The first category includes such equipment, the presence of which gives pilots permission to land and land, provided that the decision height does not exceed 60 meters directly above the runway. In this case, the vertical and horizontal visibility range should not be less than 800 and 550 meters, respectively.

The second category of lights is designed for more severe weather conditions and allows aircraft to land, the pilots of which are able to make a decision at an altitude of 30 to 60 meters above the runway. The horizontal visual range must remain at least 350 meters.

Description of III category MTR

In this case, an additional division into three subcategories is made. A detailed description can be seen in the list below.

1. Category III A. Runway facilities allow pilots to approach and land in situations where the decision height is less than 30 meters above the runway surface, and in the complete absence of decision height and horizontal visibility is not less than 200 meters.
2. Category III B. Involves a landing with a decision height of 0 to 15 meters and a horizontal visual range of 50 to200 meters.
3. Category III C. The only option where the landing lights allow approach and landing without any decision height or horizontal visibility restrictions. This system uses the aircraft's autopilot.

Types of signal lights

The most complete classification includes 17 groups of equipment. At the same time, all airfields built and currently operating in Russia follow international standards in terms of the applied MTR systems.

The complete list of equipment includes the following types of lights of the lighting system:

• aerodrome light indicators;
• landing zone lights;
• protective;
• light horizons;
• input;
• constant and pulsed approach lights;
• warning;
• landing sign lights;
• lateral and axial taxiing;
• restrictive;
• stop lights;
• glide path;
• side lights KPB;
• axial;
• quick exit lights;
• landing;
• STB, or stopway lights.

Features of runway-3 at Sheremetyevo

This airstrip is only capable of receiving night flights on a limited basis. The reason for this is the proximity of several settlements at once. High levels of aircraft noise can cause severediscomfort. However, official sources from the Ministry of Transport claim that the media is misinterpreting the fact that the MLA will be used in a limited manner. According to representatives of the structure, modern aviation technologies provide sufficient noise reduction without any impact on driving performance and flight safety.