By Stephanie Howard


For operations at a heliport to move smoothly and safely, there must be a way for pilots to communicate with people on the ground. Pilots also need to receive directions/instructions from the heliport regarding how to land and take off. The instructions are conveyed in the form of lights. Different lights pass different kinds of messages to pilots regarding how to land and take off from a helipad. Here are facts regarding Helicopter landing lights.

The light beacon HP-50/A is an important lighting fixture which is installed on heliports. The beacon is a white flashing light which functions as a system for distance visual guidance. The purpose of the beacon is to enable the pilot to view the helipad in locations where ambient light is not enough. The FAA stipulates that every helipad should have at least one light beacon.

The light beacon must be installed near or above the helipad. It is more preferable to have the beacon installed in an elevated location. It is very important to ensure that the pilot does not feel glared by the light from the beacon when they are in close proximity to it. The lamp should be made of material of excellent impact resistance, with a high level of transparency.

Another important light fixture besides the beacon light is the approach light. This is usually a white sequence flashing light. It is used for approach guidance for helicopters that are landing at the helipad. The pilot depends on this light for instructions regarding approach direction. These fixtures can be installed outside the perimeter of the heliport in one- or two-way installations. There should be 5 lights per group.

It is also vital that the upright perimeter light be installed on a helipad. Normally, the light is installed in an upright position and it emits a constant green light. Usually, the green light emitted is omni-directional during both day and night. The purpose of the low visibility light is to enable the pilot to see the takeoff area and the perimeter of the area.

The perimeter light indicates the safe area in which the pilot can land. Landing outside these lights can be hazardous to the aircraft, people, and buildings around. The area past the perimeter of the helicopter is normally not lit, which means that should the pilot land there, there would be no visibility at all. These lamps should be able to maintain their functionality in harsh environments.

All light fixtures that are used in heliports should have high service temperature so that they do not malfunction when they are most needed. Low service temperature may also cause the lamps to fail to often, which may raise the maintenance cost of the helipad. The lamps should also be made out of material that offers good aging resistance and a good flammability rating.

The FAA is tasked with regulating the type of lighting fixtures which can be used at heliports all over the country. Usually, the heliport lights are left on the entire duration they are in use. It is therefore important to use lights which have low power usage, with long lifespans and efficient.




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