Friday, May 23, 2014

Various Heliport Lights Required For Heliports

By Minnie Whitley


A heliport is typically a small airport that is mostly used for helicopters. It has its helipad and other facilities that is needed for it. There are certain standards that it has to follow. If you have a heliport then you have to follow those standards so that you can be sure that it is safe to be used.

Of course, just like in an airport, it also needs to have some lighting. The heliport lights could serve as a guide when there will be a helicopter that would land on it. A person has to make sure that the lighting he has for it is the one that is suitable for it. These lights are not like ordinary lights. They come in various shapes. It also has various uses as well. There are certain types of it that you can purchase on stores. In the following paragraphs, you would know the types which you need to have if you own a heliport.

One needs to provide perimeter light. You are going to use this in marking the spot of the Final Approach and Take Off area. This would help the pilot in determining which zone is good for landing especially when he has to operate during the night and if the weather is unpleasant. By requirement, you should have sixteen pieces of this but because you would be working on a smaller area, you can use only eight pieces.

One also needs the one for touchdown. This one is placed on the Touchdown and Lift off Area. This one is placed closer to each other compared to the ones for approach and takeoff. It is normally placed at the center of the FATO where the helicopter would land or take off.

Use the one for the direction on landing. Some will place this at the runway. This could be seen even from far away. It has been designed so it will illuminate on night time and unpleasant weather so landing would be safe.

There are also some floodlights needed. You could notice that these ones are hooded. It would help lighten up the landing place and would protect the pilot from glare. Be sure you have those to signal obstruction. It is used in marking obstructions around the FATO and TLOF. You could have the one that is pole mounted or ground mounted depending on what you prefer.

You should also have some wind cones. This would indicate the direction of the wind. It has a really bright color which helps it become more visible even in bad weather conditions. It could be installed on the ground, roof or walls.

Beacons serve a similar purpose as all other lighting. But, they are build for night operations. The light that it illuminates is really bright than the others which makes it much easy to pinpoint locations. Always remember to have a controller for your lighting system.

If one will invest on equipment like these, you have to verify first if the store selling it is accredited. If you would be having it from a store like that then you can never doubt the quality of it. This equipment is essential so you have to consider the quality too.




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