Can the Intensity of LED-Based Runway Guard Lights Be Reduced?

In 2005, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) began collaborations with research universities to study the potential for using light-emitting diode (LED) technology in airfield lighting applications. The overarching goal of this research has been to reduce the energy use and maintenance costs associated with incandescent lamps in airfield lighting. One application considered was the elevated runway guard light (ERGL), which helps pilots detect the presence of taxiway-runway intersections. LED-based ERGLs have been developed by manufacturers based on incandescent ERGL specifications (FAA AC 150/5345-46C), but the FAA sought to improve this specification based on the operational and visual performance of LEDs. At the FAA’s request, the Lighting Research Center (LRC) conducted a series of human factors studies, first in the laboratory and then in the field, to understand the influence and interaction of different lighting parameters on the visibility of elevated-type runway guard lights (ERGLs) to pilots. This research serves to assist in the development of applicable performance standards for LED-based ERGLs.

• Record URL:
  http://www.airporttech.tc.faa.gov/DesktopModules/FlexNews/DownloadHandler.ashx?id=7d2febec-ad2b-40eb-8fd7-9813e3bfc083&f=S10109-Radetsky.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  Federal Aviation Administration

  800 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20591
• Authors:
  • Radetsky, Leora C
  • Skinner, Nicholas P
  • Narendran, N
  • Bullough, John D
• Conference:
  • 2014 FAA Worldwide Airport Technology Transfer Conference
  • Location: Galloway New Jersey, United States
  • Date: 2014-8-5 to 2014-8-7
• Publication Date: 2014

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 10p
• Monograph Title: 2014 FAA Worldwide Airport Technology Transfer Conference Proceedings: Innovations in Airport Safety and Pavement Technology

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air pilots; Airport runways; Field strength; Human factors; Laboratory studies; Light emitting diodes; Lighting; Taxiways
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors; I73: Traffic Control; I85: Safety Devices used in Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01538223
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: S10109
• Files: TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Sep 25 2014 8:59AM