Airport Lighting

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Airport Lighting Design and Construction
www.bluegrassairport.com Lexington, KY
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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
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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
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Variety of Lighting Systems at an Airport
In-pavement
Edge
Navigational Aid (NAVAID)
Navigational Aid (NAVAID)
Airfield Lighting Design and Construction
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Variety of Lighting Systems at an Airport
Obstruction
Signage
Vault
Rotating Beacon
Airfield Lighting Design and Construction
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Airport Lighting Considerations
Design Installation Maintenance
Airfield Lighting Design and Construction
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Airport Lighting Design

• FAA Advisory Circulars
• Runway
• Approach Category
• Safety Area
• Taxiway
• Design Group
• Safety Area
• Signage
• Design Group

• Drainage
• Elevated or in-pavement fixtures
• Incandescent or LEDs
• Frangibility
• Electrical Vault
• Airfield Lighting Control and Monitoring System
  (ALCMS)

Airfield Lighting Design and Construction
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Airport Lighting Design

• FAA Advisory Circular 5340-30
• Operational Flexibility

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
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.
Airfield Lighting Design and Construction
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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
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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
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LEX runway lighting project in 2006 made HEADLINES
Airfield Lighting Design and Construction
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Airfield lighting became the focus of potential
airport LIABILITY
Airfield Lighting Design and Construction
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SLC Runway 34R-16LProblem Base cans in the way
Elevation
R/W CTL 11
R/W CTL 13
R/W CTL 10
R/W CTL 12
R/W CTL 1
R/W CTL 2
R/W CTL 3
R/W CTL 4
R/W CTL 5
R/W CTL 6
R/W CTL 7
R/W CTL 8
R/W CTL 9

• Challenge
• Cant 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
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SLC Runway 34R-16LSolution Revise Profile
Runway slightly raised in certain spots by no
more than 1
Existing Grade
New Grade
Elevation
Milled Surface
Base Can Height
R/W CTL 11
R/W CTL 13
R/W CTL 10
R/W CTL 12
R/W CTL 1
R/W CTL 2
R/W CTL 3
R/W CTL 4
R/W CTL 5
R/W CTL 6
R/W CTL 7
R/W CTL 8
R/W CTL 9

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

Airfield Lighting Design and Construction
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Airport Markings Design, Construction,
Maintenance and Functional Considerations
www.bluegrassairport.com Lexington, KY
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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
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Common Markings at Airports
Snapshot of Compliance
Airfield Markings Design, Construction,
Maintenance, Function
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Enhanced Conspicuity yeah, its a government term
Airfield Markings Design, Construction,
Maintenance, Function
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Maintenance and Strategic Planning Considerations
Airfield Markings Design, Construction,
Maintenance, Function
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QUESTIONS?
www.bluegrassairport.com Lexington, KY