Airport LightingDesign and Construction

www.bluegrassairport.com Lexington, KY

A Little Bit of History

Airfield Lighting Design and Construction

On Feb. 22, 1921, the U.S. Postal Service conducted a daring night-flying experiment, lighting the transcontinental route with a series of bonfires. Two planes each left New Yorkand San Francisco with loads of mail for the cross-country run. One of the eastbound planes crashed after takeoff in Elko, Nev., killing the pilot. Both westbound planes got stuck in Chicago by a snowstorm. The pilot of the remaining eastbound plane, Jack Knight, survived the trip, but only through extraordinary heroics.

Source: www.natca.org “A History of Air Traffic Control”

A Little Bit of History

Airfield Lighting Design and Construction

Also, in 1921, rotating beacons on towers replaced the bonfires on a segment of the cross countryroute through Ohio. By 1923, the Postal Service had installed similar beacons betweenChicago and Cheyenne, Wyoming. This enabled all-night flights across the continent and cutmail delivery time to 29 hours – two to three days less than it took by train.

Source: www.natca.org “A History of Air Traffic Control”

Airfield Lighting Design and Construction

Variety of Lighting Systems at an Airport

In-pavement Edge

Navigational Aid (NAVAID) Navigational Aid (NAVAID)

Airfield Lighting Design and Construction

Variety of Lighting Systems at an Airport

Obstruction Signage

Vault Rotating Beacon

Airport Lighting Considerations

Airfield Lighting Design and Construction

DESIGN

INSTALLATION

MAINTENANCE

Airport Lighting Design

Airfield Lighting Design and Construction

• FAA Advisory Circulars

• Runway• Approach

Category• Safety Area

• Taxiway• Design

Group• Safety Area

• Signage• Design

Group

• Electrical Vault• Drainage• Airfield Lighting

Control and Monitoring System (ALCMS)

Airport Lighting Design

Airfield Lighting Design and Construction

• FAA Advisory Circular 5340-30• Operational Flexibility

CCR 5 Step

Operation

Current

(Amps)

Photometric Value

Taxiway L-852C

(Measured Values CD)

5 6.6 400 cd

4 5.2 100 cd to 180 cd

3 4.1 20 cd to 40 cd

2 3.4 2.4 cd to 12 cd

1 2.8 0.6 cdto 6.6 cd.

CCR 3 Step

Operation

Current Intensity

Nominal Setting

(Amps)

Photometric Value

Taxiway L-852C

(Measured Values CD)

3 6.6 400 cd

2 5.5 120 cd to 200 cd

1 4.8 40 cd to 80 cd

Airport Lighting Installation

Airfield Lighting Design and Construction

• FAA Advisory Circular• 5340-30 Lighting• 5345-7 Underground Cable

• Operational Considerations• Can sections for pavement

rehab• Markings• Grooves

• Construction Phasing• Safety, safety, safety• Impact to operations• Funding

Airport Lighting Maintenance

Airfield Lighting Design and Construction

• FAA Advisory Circular 5340-26

• Considerations• Wiring• Cable markers• Tagging• Drainage• Access• Lightning protection

• Spare Parts• Airfield operations

Airfield Lighting Design and Construction

LEX runway lighting project in 2006 made HEADLINES

Airfield Lighting Design and Construction

Airfield lighting became the focus of potential airport LIABILITY

Airfield Lighting Design and Construction

Lawsuits were filed by every family, every company involved and their insurance carriers

Airfield Lighting Design and Construction

FAA charts were being changed for the new airfield configuration

Airfield Lighting Design and Construction

In-pavement runway lighting can take weeks to replace

SLC Runway 34R-16LProblem: Base cans in the way

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Challenge: •Can’t raise runway too much•Fix runway humps•Overlay as close to 4” as possible•Minimize disruption to operation or number of base cans removed

New GradeExisting Grade

Elev

ation

Milled Surface

Base Can Height

Airfield Lighting Design and Construction

SLC Runway 34R-16LSolution: Revise Profile

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Result: • Schedule impact significantly reduced• 350 fewer cans were removed, approximately $400k savings• Efficient milling operation

Existing Grade New Grade

Milled Surface

Base Can Height

Elev

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Runway slightly raised in certain spots by no more than 1”

Airfield Lighting Design and Construction