Helicopters that are located on the ground are known as surface level helicopters. They are known to use larger space. Typically, a heliport has several helipads. These are smooth and flat areas which are designed for take-off and landing of helicopters. Helipads are located adjacent to conventional airports, though in the lesser used areas. Helipad lighting is essential as it ensures safety of not just pilots but also passengers and personnel working around the heliport.
Identification of the helipad is very important, which is why beacon lights are used. Provision of the beacons is important in the event that long-range visual guidance is thought to be important. These lights have to be placed in elevated areas so that there is no chance of the pilot getting dazzled at short range. Repeated series of white flashes are emitted by the beacon light. These flashes are spaced at equal intervals. They are in the form if letter H, with the Morse code used.
It is important that beacon lights show at all azimuth angles and have an intensity that is more than 2500 candelas. Brilliancy control settings should be at 3, 10 and 100 percent. There also is the use of floodlights for illuminating touchdown area and the area of lift off. Their location is such that there is no glare to pilots or personnel working close to the area. Horizontal luminance is meant to be averagely 10 lux. In addition, the floodlights illuminate obstacles. Those meant for obstacle illumination should have a luminance of 10cd/m2 on the lower side.
The final approach and takeoff area, FATO, should be very well lit as well. FATO lights are placed at the edge of the FATO. These lights are supposed to be white, steady and omnidirectional. The intensity should be a minimum of 100 candelas. The setting of brilliancy control is 10, 30 and 100 percent. These lights are placed on the edges of the area at uniform spacing.
The edges of the TLOF are lit with TLOF lights. TLOF stands for touchdown and lift-off area. These lights are steady, omnidirectional and have intensity that exceeds 30 candelas. Ideally, they are placed at the TLOF edges within a distance of 1.5m off the edge. For surface-level heliports, the lighting is placed uniformly at intervals that do not exceed 5m. The lights that are rectangular should be 12 and the circular ones 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 lights come in handy when it comes to approaching particular points before going to the TLOF. They are usually steady, white and omnidirectional. Their intensity is above 100 candelas. Their brilliancy control is similar to other lights.
Windsock lights help in displaying the windsock and thus enabling the pilot to see the wind direction. At least one direction indicator is required for every heliport. The windsock light used at night needs to be illuminated so that it is easily seen.
Identification of the helipad is very important, which is why beacon lights are used. Provision of the beacons is important in the event that long-range visual guidance is thought to be important. These lights have to be placed in elevated areas so that there is no chance of the pilot getting dazzled at short range. Repeated series of white flashes are emitted by the beacon light. These flashes are spaced at equal intervals. They are in the form if letter H, with the Morse code used.
It is important that beacon lights show at all azimuth angles and have an intensity that is more than 2500 candelas. Brilliancy control settings should be at 3, 10 and 100 percent. There also is the use of floodlights for illuminating touchdown area and the area of lift off. Their location is such that there is no glare to pilots or personnel working close to the area. Horizontal luminance is meant to be averagely 10 lux. In addition, the floodlights illuminate obstacles. Those meant for obstacle illumination should have a luminance of 10cd/m2 on the lower side.
The final approach and takeoff area, FATO, should be very well lit as well. FATO lights are placed at the edge of the FATO. These lights are supposed to be white, steady and omnidirectional. The intensity should be a minimum of 100 candelas. The setting of brilliancy control is 10, 30 and 100 percent. These lights are placed on the edges of the area at uniform spacing.
The edges of the TLOF are lit with TLOF lights. TLOF stands for touchdown and lift-off area. These lights are steady, omnidirectional and have intensity that exceeds 30 candelas. Ideally, they are placed at the TLOF edges within a distance of 1.5m off the edge. For surface-level heliports, the lighting is placed uniformly at intervals that do not exceed 5m. The lights that are rectangular should be 12 and the circular ones 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 lights come in handy when it comes to approaching particular points before going to the TLOF. They are usually steady, white and omnidirectional. Their intensity is above 100 candelas. Their brilliancy control is similar to other lights.
Windsock lights help in displaying the windsock and thus enabling the pilot to see the wind direction. At least one direction indicator is required for every heliport. The windsock light used at night needs to be illuminated so that it is easily seen.
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