DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF VFR LIGHTED FLYWAYS IN THE CHICAGO CLASS B AIRSPACE

The objective of this study was to develop a prototype to be used as a visual flight rule (VFR) flyway marker in the Chicago Class B airspace. By using visual markers as a reference, VFR aircraft may be persuaded from transitioning through controlled airspace. More importantly, by scanning outside more than at the onboard instrument, the pilot's probability to detect other aircraft, terrain, or obstructions would increase. In air-to-ground visual searches, size and color are the most important factors during daytime. With a 3-mile spacing, several testing schemes were developed to analyze the effect of size and colors on perceptibility. A commercially available structure manufactured by Sprung Instant Structure was determined to be the most economical. The recommended size is a ten-panel structure of 40 ft in diameter and 18 ft in height. The colors and marking pattern determined to be the most conspicuous and noticeable are the tangerine orange and yellow combination, with alternating solid colored pattern. Based upon laboratory testing, white lighting beacons capable of Morse code 'S' flashes should be used for nighttime. The intensity of the light should be 200,000, 20,000 and 8,000 candelas at daytime, dusk, and nighttime, respectively. Following laboratory testing, flight evaluations were conducted at the University of Illinois and Schaumburg airports. The result of this study has indicated that the prototype could be implemented as a VFR flyway marker. Further investigation is necessary, however, to fully understand its capability as well as its impact on aviation around the Chicago area.

  • Corporate Authors:

    University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

    Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
    205 North Mathews Avenue
    Urbana, IL  United States  61801-2352

    Illinois Transportation Research Center

    200 University Park Drive
    Edwardsville, IL  United States  62026-1806
  • Authors:
    • Hongschaovalit, P
    • Dempsey, B J
  • Publication Date: 1999-10

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
  • Pagination: 127 p.

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00800181
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Report/Paper Numbers: ITRC FR 95/96-6,, Final Report
  • Contract Numbers: VC-A1, FY 95/96
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Oct 12 2000 12:00AM