Surface level heliports are those for helicopters and are located on the ground. They are characterized by usage of large space. The typical heliport has various helipads. These are the areas that are smooth and flat and are devoted to landing and taking off of helicopters. They are normally located near conventional airports but are in lesser-used areas. Helipad lighting is very important and consists of various forms of lights.
Beacon lights are used in case pilots have difficulty identifying the heliport. Heliport beacons are supposed to be provided in cases where long-range visual guidance is considered necessary. They should be located next to the heliport, ideally at locations that are elevated so that pilots are not dazzled at short range. The beacon light emits repeated series of white flashes that are equally spaced. The flashes are in the format of the letter H of Morse Code.
The beacon lights show at all azimuth angles with an intensity greater than 2500 candelas. Brilliancy control setting is 3 percent, 10 percent and 100 percent. For the illumination of lift off and touchdown area, floodlights are used. Floodlights are so placed as to avoid glare to the pilot or persons working around the heliport. Their horizontal luminance ought to be about 10 lux. Further, floodlights serve to illuminate obstacles. A floodlight used for illuminating obstacles should have luminance of 10cd/m2 at a minimum.
FATO lights are supposed to be placed at the edges of the FATO (final approach and take-off area). The lights should be steady, white, omnidirectional with an intensity of 100 cd and more. The brilliancy control setting ought to be 10, 30 and 100 percent. They normally are placed along the edges of the FATO at uniform spacing.
The touchdown and lift off areas, TLOF, also needs lighting. This is where TLOF lights come in handy. These are green, steady and omnidirectional. Their intensity has to be 30 candelas and more and are placed at the TLOF edges. A distance of 1.5m is left on the edges. For surface-level helicopters, lights ought to be uniformly placed at intervals that should not exceed 5m. Lights that are rectangular in shape should be 12 in number and the circular ones around 14.
The direction of approach is displayed using approaching lights. These are placed on a straight line on the preferred direction. They are supposed to be steady and omnidirectional. They should be flashing in case the helipad cannot be easily identified because of lots of light around.
Aiming point lights are used to approach a specific point prior to proceeding to TLOF. They are supposed to be white, steady, omnidirectional and with intensity more than 100 candelas. Just like the other lighting systems, the brilliancy control setting should be 100, 30 and 10 percent.
For the display of the windsock and direction of the wind, windsock lights are used. Heliports are supposed to have at least one indicator of wind direction. The one to be used at night has to be illuminated.
Beacon lights are used in case pilots have difficulty identifying the heliport. Heliport beacons are supposed to be provided in cases where long-range visual guidance is considered necessary. They should be located next to the heliport, ideally at locations that are elevated so that pilots are not dazzled at short range. The beacon light emits repeated series of white flashes that are equally spaced. The flashes are in the format of the letter H of Morse Code.
The beacon lights show at all azimuth angles with an intensity greater than 2500 candelas. Brilliancy control setting is 3 percent, 10 percent and 100 percent. For the illumination of lift off and touchdown area, floodlights are used. Floodlights are so placed as to avoid glare to the pilot or persons working around the heliport. Their horizontal luminance ought to be about 10 lux. Further, floodlights serve to illuminate obstacles. A floodlight used for illuminating obstacles should have luminance of 10cd/m2 at a minimum.
FATO lights are supposed to be placed at the edges of the FATO (final approach and take-off area). The lights should be steady, white, omnidirectional with an intensity of 100 cd and more. The brilliancy control setting ought to be 10, 30 and 100 percent. They normally are placed along the edges of the FATO at uniform spacing.
The touchdown and lift off areas, TLOF, also needs lighting. This is where TLOF lights come in handy. These are green, steady and omnidirectional. Their intensity has to be 30 candelas and more and are placed at the TLOF edges. A distance of 1.5m is left on the edges. For surface-level helicopters, lights ought to be uniformly placed at intervals that should not exceed 5m. Lights that are rectangular in shape should be 12 in number and the circular ones around 14.
The direction of approach is displayed using approaching lights. These are placed on a straight line on the preferred direction. They are supposed to be steady and omnidirectional. They should be flashing in case the helipad cannot be easily identified because of lots of light around.
Aiming point lights are used to approach a specific point prior to proceeding to TLOF. They are supposed to be white, steady, omnidirectional and with intensity more than 100 candelas. Just like the other lighting systems, the brilliancy control setting should be 100, 30 and 10 percent.
For the display of the windsock and direction of the wind, windsock lights are used. Heliports are supposed to have at least one indicator of wind direction. The one to be used at night has to be illuminated.
This article collected, selected and written by: Author Van Hoc
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