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.

The light beacon HP-50/A is an important lighting fixture which is installed on heliports. The beacon is a white flashing light which functions as a system for distance visual guidance. The purpose of the beacon is to enable the pilot to view the helipad in locations where ambient light is not enough. The FAA stipulates that every helipad should have at least one light beacon.

The installation of the light beacon should be done above or close to the helipad. Installing the beacon in an elevated location is more preferable. Light from the beacon should not cause glare to the pilot when they are nearing the helipad to land or to take off. The material used to make the lamp should have excellent impact resistance. Its level of transparency should be high as well as the level of transparency.

Another important light fixture besides the beacon light is the approach light. This is usually a white sequence flashing light. It is used for approach guidance for helicopters that are landing at the helipad. The pilot depends on this light for instructions regarding approach direction. These fixtures can be installed outside the perimeter of the heliport in one- or two-way installations. There should be 5 lights per group.

It is also vital that the upright perimeter light be installed on a helipad. Normally, the light is installed in an upright position and it emits a constant green light. Usually, the green light emitted is omni-directional during both day and night. The purpose of the low visibility light is to enable the pilot to see the takeoff area and the perimeter of the area.

The perimeter light indicates the safe area in which the pilot can land. Landing outside these lights can be hazardous to the aircraft, people, and buildings around. The area past the perimeter of the helicopter is normally not lit, which means that should the pilot land there, there would be no visibility at all. These lamps should be able to maintain their functionality 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 is tasked with regulating the type of lighting fixtures which can be used at heliports all over the country. Usually, the heliport lights are left on the entire duration they are in use. It is therefore important to use lights which have low power usage, with long lifespans and efficient.




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