There’s no getting away from it, apron lighting, the areas where aeroplanes park to load or offload cargo, passengers and luggage (basically everything a plane does before takeoff and landing) need to be lit effectively for essential operations to take place.
A robust lighting system is therefore essential to the safe, efficient operation of the apron, which serves millions of passengers daily. A large airport may have over 30,000 lights, most of which are on all day, leading to substantial energy consumption.
LED lights are the optimum choice for airport lighting due to their high efficiency and energy-saving capabilities, offering up to 80% energy savings compared to conventional light sources. For instance, our conversion from sodium to our FL800R floodlights at Heathrow yielded a 55% energy saving, significantly improving the environment on the stands.
UNDERSTANDING APRON LIGHTING
Apron lighting is crucial for ensuring safety and efficiency in one of the busiest areas of an airport. The apron is where passengers board and disembark, cargo and catering is loaded, and planes are parked, refuelled and serviced.
High-quality, uniform lighting is essential to facilitate these activities without glare or light trespass, which can be distracting or even dangerous. LED floodlights are particularly well-suited for apron lighting due to their high output and ability to cover large areas. Effective apron lighting ensures that pilots, passengers, and ground workers can operate safely and efficiently.
APRON LIGHTING STANDARDS
When it comes to lighting standards, Annex 14 of the International Civil Aviation Organisation's Aerodrome Design and Operations document offers guidelines on light levels for aprons. It recommends that horizontal illuminance should be 20 lux with a uniformity ratio no greater than 4:1, and vertical illuminance should also be 20 lux at the height of two meters above the apron.
While these are solid guidelines, it's important to remember that specific regulations vary by region. For instance, in North America, the IES RP-37-15 standard is followed, while in Australia, it’s the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s MOS139, the EU, it's the Commission Regulation No 139/2014, and in the UK, the CAA's CAP 168 applies. First and foremost, ensuring that your airport's lighting complies with these local regulations is crucial.
Key Points to Remember:
- Horizontal illuminance: 20 lux with a uniformity ratio of no more than 4:1.
- Vertical illuminance: 20 lux at a height of 2m above the apron in relevant directions.
- For other apron areas: Horizontal illuminance should be 50% of the average illuminance on the aircraft stands, with a uniformity ratio of not more than 4:1.
- The 20 lux average is the minimum requirement; some airports may require higher levels, maintaining a 0.25 uniformity ratio.
GLARE MANAGEMENT
Managing glare is essential to ensure that pilots, passengers, and ground staff can perform their tasks without visual impairment. While excellent for coverage, LED floodlights need to be carefully positioned to minimise glare and light trespass.
The best way to manage glare is through optimised optics that provide a defined cut-off, ensuring that light is directed where it's needed most without spilling into unwanted areas. ICAO Annex 14 recommends positioning floodlights to minimise glare to pilots and ground personnel. The lights should be arranged so that each aircraft stand receives illumination from more than one direction in order to minimise shadows.
The European Normative EN 12464-2:2014 suggests keeping glare rating limits (RGL) below 50. During the design stage, glare is measured from specific observer points, typically where the plane turns into an apron.
LIGHTING DESIGN
When it comes to apron lighting, design is key. It's not just about selecting floodlights with the highest output; the photometry and efficacy of the lights play a crucial role. Due to differences in design and technology, a floodlight from one supplier can perform very differently from a floodlight with the same spec from another. Thus, you can't simply compare products based on description alone.
CU Phosco offers a comprehensive lighting design service at no additional cost. Our experienced lighting engineers and designers use the latest equipment and software to create highly efficient lighting schemes. We guarantee the average lighting levels shown in our designs, ensuring that your apron lighting meets all necessary standards.
THE PRODUCT
Apron floodlighting is a critical part of your airport's infrastructure. While budget considerations are important, opting for cheaper systems can lead to higher maintenance costs and potential legal issues if the lighting fails to meet required standards.
Investing in premium products often means better durability and longer-lasting performance. Moreover, reputable suppliers will be around to support you in the long run, unlike some cheaper alternatives that may not be available when problems arise. There are a couple of things to look for when selecting a product:
Thermal Management
Effective heat dissipation and thermal management are crucial for the performance and longevity of LED floodlights. Ensuring LEDs operate within optimal temperature ranges prevents overheating and maintains efficiency. Key factors influencing thermal management include the quality of LED chips, floodlight design, heat sink materials, and surface area. High-quality LEDs produce less heat, and well-designed luminaires with features like fins and thermal channels improve heat dissipation.
Aluminium heat sinks and effective thermal interface materials enhance thermal conductivity. Adequate enclosure ventilation, appropriate drive current and voltage, efficient power supplies, and dimming systems also contribute to better thermal management. Environmental conditions and regular maintenance, such as cleaning heat sinks, are essential for sustained performance.
Our floodlights, equipped with the AeroFlow® Cooling System, provide exceptional thermal management, maximising heat dissipation and enabling a compact luminaire design that can be retrofitted onto existing masts. This advanced technology, combined with our choice of high-quality LED components, ensures high lumen output with minimal lumen depreciation over the lifespan, reducing both energy consumption and operating costs.
Integrated drivers vs remote drivers.
Whether to use integrated or remote drivers can depend on various factors, including geographic location. For example, integrated drivers are common in the UK, Italy, and Germany, while remote drivers are preferred in France and the US.
Regardless of the choice, it's essential that your supplier provides solutions that account for voltage spikes, which can damage LED lights. Ensuring that surge arrestors are included in the system can protect your lighting investment. (this is for the electrical contractors)
Learn how our installation of FL800D with built-in drivers, simplify installation and maintenance.
Testing
Before, during, and even after installation, the testing job isn't done. It's vital to test and verify that the lighting system performs as promised and complies with all relevant standards. Regular testing with a documented methodology ensures that your lighting system remains efficient and compliant over time.
DUBAI, UAE
At Al Maktoum International Airport, CU Phosco Lighting and Haji Commercial Co. LLC (HCC) collaborated to reduce energy and maintenance costs.
After a successful trial of our FL800R-4 LED floodlights, the DCA ordered more units to convert additional masts. The new installation increased average lighting levels by 150%, from 30 lux to 45 lux, and achieved a 38% energy saving. Read more here.
"Engaging a contractor capable of the design, manufacture, and installation facilitated a single point of contact for the works and proved effective in promptly managing and absorbing changes to scope." Daniel Vickers, London Stansted Airport.
It is safe to say there is a lot to consider, CU Phosco Lighting's turnkey service can guide you through mastering apron lighting, from initial consultation to installation, final commissioning, and follow-up maintenance. Our dedicated team manages your projects worldwide, providing unparalleled support in the lighting industry
We build honest relationships with our customers, offer products at fair prices, and support them in the use, maintenance, and eventual replacement of our equipment. This commitment ensures a level of support unrivalled in the lighting industry.