Aircrafts will most likely crash or overrun the runway if there were no lighting systems in the airports. Heliport lights play the same role as those in airports but they are made specifically to be used in heliports. Some guidelines have been laid down on what kind of lights and how these light bulbs should be installed both on the helipad and the heliport whether it is on ground level or on rooftop
The landing direction for a helicopter should be indicated by the approach lighting. This gives the pilot and his team the best approach route for successful landing. The system should have three light rows that are uniformly spaced with 30 metres gap between them. An eighteen meter crossbar should be situated ninety metres away from the area of take-off and approach perimeter that is last. In 4.5 metre intervals perpendicularly bisecting the lines of approach lights are crossbar light bulbs.
Wherever the final approach need to be made a little bit more visible, just after the crossbars, within 30 metres interval, additional lights can be installed. The nature of the light bulbs depends on the environment. They may be flashing in nature or just steady. The length of these light bulbs needs to be 210 metres or more for a final approach that is non-precision in nature and for the area of take-off.
Lighting for the FATO (Final Approach and Take-Off) area should be done at the edges covering all the FATO area if it a ground level heliport. Rectangular or squarely constructed one should have at least 4 lights at the spacing of 50 meters making sure each corner has a light. Lighting for other shapes of FATO should be made at 5 meter intervals and the minimum number of light bulbs to be 10. The light should be white in color and in all directions.
Another lighting that should be installed is the aiming point light bulbs. They are set is such a way that they form a wedge shape pointing to the landing area. At least 6 white light bulbs are used to form the wedge with one at each vertex.
Flood light bulbs or perimeter lights form the touchdown and lift off areas. If the helipad has FATO light bulbs then there is no need to use very bright light. Instead luminescent light bulbs are used which are 1.5 metres from the touchdown area or at the edges. Within 3 metre intervals for elevated areas and 5 metres for the ground level, not less than four light bulbs are installed. They should be steady and green in color. Floodlights are installed, within an interval of not more than ten metre intervals at the floor levels.
Taxiway and apron lightings also need to be installed if they are required. They should be facing all directions made of a blue glass dome. The bulbs should be powered by a 240V AC low voltage transformer.
The Heliport light installation guidelines set by ICAO are meant to ensure the safety of all. The personnel responsible for the control should have great skills and the equipment should be of the highest quality. The differences in the light intensity needed depending on the general climatic conditions need to be well adhered to. For safety, all the lights need to be at the right place and of the light color.
The landing direction for a helicopter should be indicated by the approach lighting. This gives the pilot and his team the best approach route for successful landing. The system should have three light rows that are uniformly spaced with 30 metres gap between them. An eighteen meter crossbar should be situated ninety metres away from the area of take-off and approach perimeter that is last. In 4.5 metre intervals perpendicularly bisecting the lines of approach lights are crossbar light bulbs.
Wherever the final approach need to be made a little bit more visible, just after the crossbars, within 30 metres interval, additional lights can be installed. The nature of the light bulbs depends on the environment. They may be flashing in nature or just steady. The length of these light bulbs needs to be 210 metres or more for a final approach that is non-precision in nature and for the area of take-off.
Lighting for the FATO (Final Approach and Take-Off) area should be done at the edges covering all the FATO area if it a ground level heliport. Rectangular or squarely constructed one should have at least 4 lights at the spacing of 50 meters making sure each corner has a light. Lighting for other shapes of FATO should be made at 5 meter intervals and the minimum number of light bulbs to be 10. The light should be white in color and in all directions.
Another lighting that should be installed is the aiming point light bulbs. They are set is such a way that they form a wedge shape pointing to the landing area. At least 6 white light bulbs are used to form the wedge with one at each vertex.
Flood light bulbs or perimeter lights form the touchdown and lift off areas. If the helipad has FATO light bulbs then there is no need to use very bright light. Instead luminescent light bulbs are used which are 1.5 metres from the touchdown area or at the edges. Within 3 metre intervals for elevated areas and 5 metres for the ground level, not less than four light bulbs are installed. They should be steady and green in color. Floodlights are installed, within an interval of not more than ten metre intervals at the floor levels.
Taxiway and apron lightings also need to be installed if they are required. They should be facing all directions made of a blue glass dome. The bulbs should be powered by a 240V AC low voltage transformer.
The Heliport light installation guidelines set by ICAO are meant to ensure the safety of all. The personnel responsible for the control should have great skills and the equipment should be of the highest quality. The differences in the light intensity needed depending on the general climatic conditions need to be well adhered to. For safety, all the lights need to be at the right place and of the light color.
