Airport Lighting

Design and Construction

www.bluegrassairport.com Lexington, KY
 A Little Bit of History

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 York
and 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”

Airfield Lighting Design and Construction

 A Little Bit of History

Also, in 1921, rotating beacons on towers replaced the

bonfires on a segment of the cross country
route through Ohio. By 1923, the Postal Service had
installed similar beacons between
Chicago and Cheyenne, Wyoming. This enabled all-night
flights across the continent and cut
mail 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

Airfield Lighting Design and Construction
 Airport Lighting Considerations

DESIGN

INSTALLATION

MAINTENANCE

Airfield Lighting Design and Construction

 Airport Lighting Design
• FAA Advisory • Drainage
Circulars • Elevated or in-
• Runway pavement fixtures
• Approach • Incandescent or
Category LEDs
• Safety Area • Frangibility
• Taxiway • Electrical Vault
• Design Group • Airfield Lighting
• Safety Area Control and
• Signage Monitoring
• Design Group System (ALCMS)

Airfield Lighting Design and Construction

 Airport Lighting Design

• FAA Advisory Circular 5340-30

• Operational Flexibility

Photometric Value Current Intensity Photometric Value

CCR 5 Step Current CCR 3 Step
Taxiway L-852C Nominal Setting Taxiway L-852C
Operation (Amps) Operation
(Measured Values CD) (Amps) (Measured Values CD)
5 6.6 400 cd 3 6.6 400 cd
4 5.2 100 cd to 180 cd

3 4.1 20 cd to 40 cd 2 5.5 120 cd to 200 cd

2 3.4 2.4 cd to 12 cd

1 2.8 0.6 cdto 6.6 cd. 1 4.8 40 cd to 80 cd

Airfield Lighting Design and Construction

 Airport Lighting Installation
• 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

Airfield Lighting Design and Construction

 Airport Lighting Maintenance

• 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

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

Existing Grade New Grade

Elevation
Base Can Height

Milled Surface

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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

Airfield Lighting Design and Construction

 SLC Runway 34R-16L
Solution: Revise Profile

Runway slightly raised in certain

Existing Grade New Grade spots by no more than 1”

Milled Surface

Elevation
Base Can Height

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

Airfield Lighting Design and Construction

 Airport Markings:
Design, Construction,
Maintenance and
Functional Considerations

www.bluegrassairport.com Lexington, KY
 Markings and Purpose
• Provide directional guidance to pilots and ground vehicles
• Distinguish between surfaces
• Identify boundaries between “protected” and “non-protected” areas

Airfield Markings Design, Construction, Maintenance, Function

 Common Markings at Airports

Snapshot of Compliance

Airfield Markings Design, Construction, Maintenance, Function

 Enhanced Conspicuity …yeah, it’s a government term

Airfield Markings Design, Construction, Maintenance, Function

 Maintenance and Strategic Planning
Considerations

Airfield Markings Design, Construction, Maintenance, Function

QUESTIONS?

www.bluegrassairport.com Lexington, KY