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.
When pilots have difficulties identifying the pilot, beacon lights are used. Beacons are provided in the event that long range visual guidance is deemed necessary. These lights are meant to be located close to the helipad, specifically at elevated locations to ensure pilots are not dazzled at close range. The lights produce equally spaced white flashes. These flashes are normally in the format of letter H of the Morse code.
Beacon lights show at all angles of azimuth, with the intensity being greater than 2500 Cd. The brilliancy control setting should be 3, 10 and 100 percent. Floodlights in helipads are for the illumination of touch down and the area of lift off. These lights are so located as to avoid glare to pilots or the personnel working around the area. The horizontal luminance should be averagely 10 lux. Floodlights also help in illumination of obstacles. Floodlights for obstacles should have a luminance of at least 10cd/m2.
The edges of the final approach and take off area, FATO, are installed with FATO lights. These are omnidirectional, steady, white and usually have intensity of more than 100 candelas. The brilliancy control is similar to that of beacon lights, that is 10, 30 and 100 percent. These are supposed to be placed at the FATO edges 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.
Approaching lights are for the display of preferred direction of approach. They are located in a straight line along the direction that is preferred. They shall be omnidirectional, steady, white or flashing. Flashing lights are useful in the event that identification of the heliport is difficult because of light in the surroundings. In case the approach light system for non-precision FATO is provided, the system is not supposed to be less than 210m.
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 lighting is used to display the windsock and thus direction of wind. A helipad should have at least one indicator of wind direction. Illumination is mandatory for the one used at night.
When pilots have difficulties identifying the pilot, beacon lights are used. Beacons are provided in the event that long range visual guidance is deemed necessary. These lights are meant to be located close to the helipad, specifically at elevated locations to ensure pilots are not dazzled at close range. The lights produce equally spaced white flashes. These flashes are normally in the format of letter H of the Morse code.
Beacon lights show at all angles of azimuth, with the intensity being greater than 2500 Cd. The brilliancy control setting should be 3, 10 and 100 percent. Floodlights in helipads are for the illumination of touch down and the area of lift off. These lights are so located as to avoid glare to pilots or the personnel working around the area. The horizontal luminance should be averagely 10 lux. Floodlights also help in illumination of obstacles. Floodlights for obstacles should have a luminance of at least 10cd/m2.
The edges of the final approach and take off area, FATO, are installed with FATO lights. These are omnidirectional, steady, white and usually have intensity of more than 100 candelas. The brilliancy control is similar to that of beacon lights, that is 10, 30 and 100 percent. These are supposed to be placed at the FATO edges 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.
Approaching lights are for the display of preferred direction of approach. They are located in a straight line along the direction that is preferred. They shall be omnidirectional, steady, white or flashing. Flashing lights are useful in the event that identification of the heliport is difficult because of light in the surroundings. In case the approach light system for non-precision FATO is provided, the system is not supposed to be less than 210m.
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 lighting is used to display the windsock and thus direction of wind. A helipad should have at least one indicator of wind direction. Illumination is mandatory for the one used at night.
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