Design and Installation of Flasher Baffles at the Arcata/Eureka Airport

The medium intensity approach lighting system with runway alignment indicator lights operating on runway 32 at the Arcata/Eureka Airport in McKinleyville, California, was causing a severe glare hazard to motorist driving on a nearby highway that crossed through the system, approximately 1400 feet from the end of the runway. Specifically, the glare was caused by high intensity light output from the strobe portion of the Approach Lighting System. The Western-Pacific Region, Airway Facilities Division requested the Airport Technology Research and Development Branch to investigate and provide possible solution to eliminate the hazard. Based on the geometry of the roadway and the Approach Lighting System, it was determined that a series of baffles installed in three of the five strobe lights would be the most effective way to block the light from being projected directly into the motorists' eyes. Engineers designed, developed, and constructed three different aluminum baffles specifically for the situation. Ground and flight evaluations, which included the use of motor vehicles and aircraft, were conducted during both day and nighttime conditions to determine if the glare hazard had been eliminated without affecting the usability of the lights for approaching aircraft. The results of the evaluations showed that the baffles had eliminated the glaze hazard without reducing the essential approach guidance needed by pilots.

• Record URL:
  http://www.tc.faa.gov/its/worldpac/techrpt/ar05-41.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Federal Aviation Administration

  William J. Hughes Technical Center, Airport Technology Research and Development Branch
  Atlantic City International Airport
  Atlantic City, NJ  United States  08405

  Federal Aviation Administration

  Office of Aviation Research
  800 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20591
• Authors:
  • Patterson, J W
• Publication Date: 2005-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Pagination: 20p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aircraft; Airport runways; Approach; Design; Glare; Hazard evaluation; Highway safety; Highway traffic; Installation; Lighting systems; Strobes
• Identifier Terms: Arcata/Eureka Airport
• Uncontrolled Terms: Aircraft arrival; Approach lighting; Baffles; High intensity discharge lights; Runway guard lighting
• Geographic Terms: McKinleyville (California)
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Design; Maintenance and Preservation; Operations and Traffic Management; Pavements; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01010737
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOT/FAA/AR-05/41
• Files: TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Nov 28 2005 9:12AM