Surface level helipads are those that are located at the ground level. Unlike other forms of helipads, they tend to use more space. There are various helipads in a typical heliport. Helipads are smooth, flat and are devoted for takeoff and landing of helicopters. Whereas they are located close to conventional airports, they have to be situated in the lesser used places. Helipad lighting is very crucial and many types of lights are used.
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.
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 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.
To approach certain areas before proceeding to the TLOF, aiming point lights should be used. They are white and steady, with an intensity that exceeds 100 cd. Brilliancy control setting is 10, 30 and 100 percent.
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.
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 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.
To approach certain areas before proceeding to the TLOF, aiming point lights should be used. They are white and steady, with an intensity that exceeds 100 cd. Brilliancy control setting is 10, 30 and 100 percent.
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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