Monday, July 22, 2019

Useful Information Regarding Helicopter Landing Lights

By Stephanie Howard


The pilot should be able to communicate with individuals on the ground so that operations on a helipad can run smoothly. Also, the pilot should receive instructions or directions from the ground in regard to taking off and landing. The instructions are relayed in form of lights. The messages pilots receive are different depending of the different kinds of lights. This is worth knowing about Helicopter landing lights.

One important lighting fixture that is installed on helipads is the light beacon HP-50/A. This light beacon is usually designed in the form of white flashing light that is used as a distance visual guidance. The beacon is used in situations where ambient light in the location is making it hard for the pilot to see the helipad. The FAA requires every helipad to have a minimum of one light beacon.

Light beacons ought to be installed above the helipad or on it. It is more convenient to install the beacon in a raised location. Also, it is vital to make sure that the pilot is not affected by the glare from the beacon light as they approach the helipad. The lamp ought to be made from material that has excellent impact resistance. The materials should also have a high level of transparency.

Apart from the beacon light, the other vital lighting fixture is the approach light. Normally, it produces white flashing light. The light is used to guide the approach of the helicopter as it lands on the helipad. The light is important as it aids the pilot to see the direction of approach. The fixtures can be installed in the outer region of the heliport in one-way or two-way installation. In each group, there must be 5 lighting fixtures of this kind.

Another important light fixture on a helipad is the upright perimeter light. It is customarily set up in an upright position to produce a constant green upright light. Green light is emitted in all directions at night and during the day and with low visibility. The low visibility is necessary to indicate the landing and take off perimeters for the pilot.

The perimeter light shows the pilot which part of the helipad is safe to land on. Landing outside the perimeter lights can be dangerous to both the aircraft and people or buildings in the area. The area outside the perimeter of the helipad is usually not lit, which means that the pilot will have no visibility at all if they decide to land there. The lamp should be able to remain functional in harsh environments.

The lighting fixtures used in heliports must have high service temperatures to avoid inconveniences in case they malfunction when they are needed the most. In case they have low service temperatures, they may fail most of the time which may in turn increase the maintenance cost of the heliport. In addition, the lamps should have good flammability rating and aging resistance.

The FAA strictly regulates the kind of lighting features that can be used at heliports across the country. The lights usually remain on most of the duration they are in use. As such, it is important that they have a low level of power consumption. They must also be very efficient, with a long lifespan.




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