Next Generation Intelligent Airfield Ground Lighting Technology for Future Airport Applications

SPECIAL REPORT

Next Generation Intelligent Airfield Ground Lighting Technology for Future Airport Approach, Runway and Taxiway Applications Next Generation Intelligent Airfield Ground Lighting Technology for Future Airport Approach, Runway and Taxiway Applications The Contactless Future Why LEDs Are the Future Next Generation Lighting: Key Issues for Success What the Future Holds: The Integrated Airfield

Sponsored by

Published by Global Business Media

CEDD the Future ®

Install and Manage your AGL more easily than ever before Contactless Energy & Data Distribution (CEDD ) revolutionizes your Airfield Ground Lighting: ®

• • • •

Fast and easy installation Safe, reliable inductive system Smart asset management Significant reduction of investment and maintenance costs

Find out more: www.induperm.com or www.cedd.eu

One cable for power & data No galvanic contact

NEXT GENERATION INTELLIGENT AIRFIELD GROUND LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY FOR FUTURE AIRPORT APPROACH, RUNWAY AND TAXIWAY APPLICATIONS

SPECIAL REPORT

Next Generation Intelligent Airfield Ground Lighting Technology for Future Airport Approach, Runway and Taxiway Applications Next Generation Intelligent Airfield Ground Lighting Technology for Future Airport Approach, Runway and Taxiway Applications

Contents

The Contactless Future Why LEDs Are the Future Next Generation Lighting: Key Issues for Success What the Future Holds: The Integrated Airfield

Foreword

2

Tom Cropper, Editor

Next Generation Intelligent Airfield Ground Lighting 3 Technology for Future Airport Approach, Runway and Taxiway Applications Guy Spillebeen – CEO Induperm, Hans van der Kuil – CEO Use System Engineering / Impleo Solutions both members of the TKH group and

Sponsored by

Published by Global Business Media

Published by Global Business Media Global Business Media Limited 62 The Street Ashtead Surrey KT21 1AT United Kingdom Switchboard: +44 (0)1737 850 939 Fax: +44 (0)1737 851 952 Email: info@globalbusinessmedia.org Website: www.globalbusinessmedia.org Publisher Kevin Bell Business Development Director Marie-Anne Brooks Editor Tom Cropper Senior Project Manager Steve Banks Advertising Executives Michael McCarthy Abigail Coombes Production Manager Paul Davies For further information visit: www.globalbusinessmedia.org The opinions and views expressed in the editorial content in this publication are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily represent the views of any organisation with which they may be associated.

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working on TKH Airfield Solutions

Introduction What is CEDD®?

CEDD® LED Lights CEDD AGL System Overview CEDD® AGL Services CEDD® Features and Benefits

The Contactless Future

9

Tom Cropper, Editor

Business is Booming Difficult Times Intelligent Lighting Contactless Energy A Flexible System

Why LEDs Are the Future 11 Jo Roth, Staff Writer

The Lamp of the Future The LED Future Bigger and More Complex Completing the Transition

Next Generation Lighting: Key Issues for Success

13

James Butler, Staff Writer

Bright Lights Advanced Navigation Comparison with Halogens Choosing an Integrated System

What the Future Holds: The Integrated Airfield

15

Tom Cropper, Editor

LED Lighting Comes of Age Solar Power The Integrated Airfield How Regulations Can Change

References 17

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NEXT GENERATION INTELLIGENT AIRFIELD GROUND LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY FOR FUTURE AIRPORT APPROACH, RUNWAY AND TAXIWAY APPLICATIONS

Foreword A

IRFIELD GROUND lighting has come a long

We will then look more closely at this and some

way since the early days of flight, but today

of the other high tech solutions coming into play

it’s in the midst of another revolution. Airports are

around the world. The age of the connected airfield

coming under pressure to make lights clearer and

is coming and lighting will play a vital role. We’ll then

brighter, while also consuming less energy and

have two articles focusing on LED lighting. Jo Roth will

managing their impact in the environment.

outline the benefits LEDs have over halogen lighting

It seems an impossible task, but the latest

and alternatives, before James Butler highlights

generation of lighting solutions is promising to do just

some of the considerations airports must take when

that. Highly efficient LEDs are taking over from out-

implementing LED technology.

of-date halogen lighting; smarter controls are enabling

Finally, we’ll look at the future. We’ll assess the

airports to improve safety while ensuring they only ever

prospects for the market and some of the trends and

use the right amount of lighting at the right time.

new technologies which could shape tomorrow’s

Our opening article comes from one of those

airfield. These could prove to be transformative as

companies pioneering the next generation of lighting

airports seek to cope with the many challenges the

solutions. Guy Spillebeen is CEO of Induperm and

next few decades will bring.

Hans van der Kuil is CEO of Use System Engineering.

They talk about some of the ground-breaking technology driving the sector forward, particularly a new form of contactless energy which is dramatically improving installation times.

Tom Cropper Editor

Tom Cropper has produced articles and reports on various aspects of global business over the past 15 years. He has also worked as a copywriter for some of the largest corporations in the world, including ING, KPMG and the World Wildlife Fund.

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NEXT GENERATION INTELLIGENT AIRFIELD GROUND LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY FOR FUTURE AIRPORT APPROACH, RUNWAY AND TAXIWAY APPLICATIONS

Next Generation Intelligent Airfield Ground Lighting Technology for Future Airport Approach, Runway and Taxiway Applications

CEDD the Future ®

Guy Spillebeen – CEO Induperm, Hans van der Kuil – CEO Use System Engineering / Impleo Solutions both members of the TKH group and working on TKH Airfield Solutions

Introduction Contactless Energy and Data Distribution (CEDD®) for Airfield Ground Lighting (AGL) applications has been developed and configured

by USE System Engineering BV, member of the TKH Group N.V. in Haaksbergen (the Netherlands) to provide reliable power, control, monitoring and data analysis for harsh environments such as AGL systems. In addition, CEDD® technology provides airport engineering personnel with a built-in asset management system for efficient and cost-effective maintenance functions, planning and operation of the AGL system.

What is CEDD®?

CEDD® technology uses contactless energy transportation and data communication to drive, control and monitor the performance of the AGL lighting fixtures and overcomes the issues associated with traditional AGL series circuits currently in use, such as failing field connectors, high voltage applications and includes the removal of individual isolating transformers for each lighting fixture together with their associated transformer pits (housings/receptacles etc.). The core system consists of a CEDD®

base-station and up to 400 lighting fixtures (and/or sensors) commonly referred to as “nodes”. Power requirement is a low voltage grid as incoming supply for a 2kW field load over a circuit length of 2km. Communication Downstream (Control & Monitoring) and Upstream (Back-Indication) to and from the “nodes” is based on modern and robust time and frequency modulation technologies.

The system operates with frequencies in the range of low frequencies. With these frequencies, the cable induction becomes an important factor. The cable induction is compensated using series capacitors on both sides of the cable (both in the base-station as well as in the cable end termination).

The system acts as a series circuit, which means that the cable current is kept constant, where the voltage increases with load. Each CEDD® node receives power for the light fixture from the basestation by means of a complete and unbroken twisted-pair special CEDD® cable connecting to the node by a contactless connection (inductive clamp). The same cabling and connection is used for both power and data communication to and from the nodes.

Install and Manage your AGL more easily than ever before Contactless Energy & Data Distribution (CEDD ) revolutionizes your Airfield Ground Lighting: ®

• One cable for power & data • No galvanic contact www.induperm.com www.cedd.eu

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NEXT GENERATION INTELLIGENT AIRFIELD GROUND LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY FOR FUTURE AIRPORT APPROACH, RUNWAY AND TAXIWAY APPLICATIONS

CEDD速 provides a

Base functionality of the CEDD technology platform

modular system where reliability, extreme environmental conditions (dust, water, power, ice), flexibility, fast and simple installation, minimal maintenance and low operating costs are a necessity

CEDD速 provides a modular system where reliability, extreme environmental conditions (dust, water, power, ice), flexibility, fast and simple installation, minimal maintenance and low operating costs are a necessity. When multiple circuits and base-stations are configured to meet the airfield layout and AGL performance requirements such as interleaving and fail-safe applications, the base-stations are interlinked and located in environmental enclosures installed in the field known as Point of Base-stations (POBs) and a Master Control Centre (AGL CEDD速

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Master) is added capable of controlling multiple base-stations and multiple lighting circuits whilst providing addressable identification.

The CEDD速 AGL system brings added benefits and advantages over the traditional AGL lighting systems infrastructure not only for safe and efficient control, monitoring and maintenance but with additional benefits built into the design for Individual Light Control (ILCMS) and Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control (A-SMGCS) and a built-in Asset Management and Maintenance system.

NEXT GENERATION INTELLIGENT AIRFIELD GROUND LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY FOR FUTURE AIRPORT APPROACH, RUNWAY AND TAXIWAY APPLICATIONS

CEDD the Future ®

Installation of CEDD is quick and easy:

Connect

Click

One fundamental principle and a specific advantage of the CEDD ® technology is the contactless connection in the form of the inductive clamp.

The CEDD® Airfield Cable is designed for the specific CEDD® airfield technology. The cable is an assembly of two single core cables 6mm2 0.6/2 kV. The mechanical design of the construction, in combination with the applied materials, results in a cable meeting the existing relevant airfield lighting cable standards and is appropriate for the specific CEDD® application with respect to installation and connection and transmission needs.

Go

In the event of the 2 core twisted pair cable becoming damaged, it is capable of being repaired in the field and a recognised and approved cable repair process is available.

Because the system operates with frequencies in the low frequencies range, the cable induction becomes an important factor. The cable induction is compensated using series capacitors called Terminators on both sides of the cable (both in the base-station as well as in the termination).

CEDD® LED Lights Hella Induperm, The German/Danish new member of the TKH Group, is developing and

Install and Manage your AGL more easily than ever before Contactless Energy & Data Distribution (CEDD ) revolutionizes your Airfield Ground Lighting: ®

• One cable for power & data • No galvanic contact www.induperm.com www.cedd.eu

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NEXT GENERATION INTELLIGENT AIRFIELD GROUND LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY FOR FUTURE AIRPORT APPROACH, RUNWAY AND TAXIWAY APPLICATIONS

In the event of the 2 core twisted pair cable becoming damaged, it is capable of being repaired in the field and a recognised and approved cable repair process is available

producing the LED lights that are powered by the inductive CEDD® system to provide a new smart connectivity technology for the Airfield Ground Lighting. All state-of-the-art LED inset and elevated lights will be powered by the inductive technology and will be individually controlled and monitored by the CEDD® system.

CEDD AGL System Overview A short summary of the building block functionalities: CEDD master • Interface to tower control via standard interface technology and will act like “virtual CCR’s” • Control of base stations based on tower control • Reporting status information to tower and asset management • Administration of functional lamp groups • Configuration of CEDD system components • Monitoring CEDD system components • Logging of system information • Diagnostic • Fail safe functionality • Remote / Local control

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CEDD Base Station • Control of CEDD nodes • CEDD core and airfield application • Administration of CEDD nodes • Logging of system information • Diagnostic • Fail safe functionality • Remote / Local control CEDD Node • Control and monitor CEDD Node application (light source, sensor etc.)

•M easuring parameters (current, temperature etc.)

• Communication with base station • Diagnostic • Fail safe functionality • Stand-alone control

CEDD® AGL Services A CEDD® Trainings and certification program is foreseen for Certified CEDD® AGL System Designers, System Integrators, Engineers and Maintenance Engineers. The CEDD® system is also extended to provide the airfield engineering

NEXT GENERATION INTELLIGENT AIRFIELD GROUND LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY FOR FUTURE AIRPORT APPROACH, RUNWAY AND TAXIWAY APPLICATIONS

CEDD the Future ®

personnel with their own Maintenance Control Centre (UWISE Operational Intelligence®) where a complete asset maintenance management system is incorporated. The built-in Asset Management and Maintenance platform (CEDD® UWISE) is accessed by the Airfield Asset Manager, and his approved Airfield Engineering staff, and includes the facility for predictive maintenance and incorporates the interface for various other CEDD® AGL services for either local or remote access.

CEDD® UWISE Operational Intelligence is the CEDD® AGL surveillance platform that provides qualified and continuously updated knowledge about an Airfield Ground Lighting asset’s integrity, 24/7 in real time: • Actual status and deep analysis of what is happening in the AGL system and technology infrastructure allowing the correct decisions to be made at the right time.

• Designed to maximize AGL system “up-time” and the AGL asset availability across the life cycle of an airfield.

• UWISE Operational Intelligence enables early detection and diagnosis of defects, supported

by an extensive historical database. This is complemented by an integrated CEDD® UWISE AGL operation platform. This platform also allows an online collaboration between the field operators and maintenance team and a 2nd and 3rd Line (e.g. USE Technologies) support team.

• UWISE Operational Intelligence makes proactive and condition-based maintenance possible. Advanced warning of potential failures and adaptive knowledge offers the potential for increasing system efficiency and the ability to increase and optimize planned maintenance rather than unplanned corrective maintenance.

• Recognizing and understanding AGL System condition based on performance trends will help avoid costly unplanned repairs.

Remote access capability is part of the CEDD® UWISE technology. However, remote access will be under strict airport management control and approval.

CEDD® Features and Benefits Operational since 2013 with no reported errors or defects, the CEDD® AGL fits very well for

Dashboard of one of the familiarisation projects

Install and Manage your AGL more easily than ever before Contactless Energy & Data Distribution (CEDD ) revolutionizes your Airfield Ground Lighting: ®

• One cable for power & data • No galvanic contact www.induperm.com www.cedd.eu

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NEXT GENERATION INTELLIGENT AIRFIELD GROUND LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY FOR FUTURE AIRPORT APPROACH, RUNWAY AND TAXIWAY APPLICATIONS

The CEDD technology platform for AGL applications can be compared to the transition 10 years ago from standard mobile phones to smartphones

applications such as lead-on and follow the green, stop-bars, helipads, de-icing circuits where a fast response and individual addressable lights are necessary.

At this moment, CEDD AGL is installed in several small familiarisation projects worldwide.

The purpose is to get experience with the CEDD AGL system in different live situations. Also, the users (Airports, asset management, installers, maintenance engineers, etc.) of the CEDD AGL systems should learn about the possibilities of this new platform A summary of the key benefits of the technology: • The Light fixtures are intelligent and can communicate upstream and downstream much faster than all existing power line classical ILCM systems on airports today • No additional control and monitor “remotes” • Extra energy savings • I ntegrated pro-active asset management platform •R eporting and logging of lamp status, running hours, intensities, temperatures and much more.

• Capex and Opex improvements • Best in class Asset management o CEDD is leading in maintenance 2.0 o I ntelligent behaviour inside and remote support

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• Proactive approach with SAFETY oU se of low voltage and contactless distribution o Less weak points • Sustainable

o Reduction of energy (in respect to traditional LED technology), materials and resources

o Higher uptime with lower maintenance and minimal corrective maintenance.

•A nd the CEDD AGL technology platform is future proof, o Technology migration, ready for new technology concepts and new building block integration o Limited only by your imagination!

At Impleo solutions we believe that the CEDD technology platform for AGL applications can be compared to the transition 10 years ago from standard mobile phones to smartphones – and see where we are nowadays with smartphones!

For more information: www.cedd.eu or contact: • Paul Thellier paul.thellier@induperm.com • Hans van der Kuil hans.vanderkuil@impleosolutions.eu

NEXT GENERATION INTELLIGENT AIRFIELD GROUND LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY FOR FUTURE AIRPORT APPROACH, RUNWAY AND TAXIWAY APPLICATIONS

The Contactless Future Tom Cropper, Editor How a revolutionary form of contactless energy could hold the key to delivering

CEDD the Future ®

the intelligent lighting systems of the future.

A

T THE 2015 Inter Airport Europe Trade Show, Impleo Solutions unveiled a connectivity solution which they argue could be transformative for the aviation industry1.

They call it CEDD® and it’s one of a new generation of technologies which could be transformative for the airfield lighting industry.

Business is Booming Airfield lighting is certainly big business.

A Markets and Markets report predicts it to grow from $454.5million in 2015 to $672.2million2 in 2022, an increase of 7.2% CAGR. Growth is expected to be fuelled by expansion of infrastructure and an increasing emphasis on controlling maintenance costs.

Airport infrastructure is growing rapidly around the world. Major global hubs are undergoing extensive expansion projects. Heathrow, for example, is planning a new runway. Bahrain Airport is undergoing a $1bn expansion3, while Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai4 is in the middle of an ongoing $8bn expansion program. As airports become larger and more complex, they will need airfield lighting systems which can cope.

At the same time, the pressures on airports are growing. Historically, traffic has doubled every 20 years and, with fresh demand from emerging economies such as China and India, that shows every sign of continuing. To meet demand, they will have to improve turnaround times and increase the available aircraft slots.

Difficult Times For all this booming demand, though, life for airports is tough. Despite a number of headline grabbing profits for some of the world’s major hubs, the grim truth is that most will find it difficult to make ends meet. Approximately 70% of airports around the world lose money5. For all the millions of passengers passing through their terminals, running an airport is incredibly asset-intensive with huge investment required to accommodate a single landing. To survive, they need to manage costs wherever they can,

which means a cost intensive operation such as lighting becomes a key factor upon which the overall business model could stand or fall.

One answer lies in a series of new measures and technologies which are revolutionizing the way airports are lit. Much attention has focused on the transition from out of date, low intensity halogen lighting towards state-of-the-art LED lighting.

The downside is that they are considerably more expensive than traditional tungsten Halogen counterparts. However, manufacturers say that they use considerably less energy, last much longer, are more suitable to harsh environments and require less maintenance.

Airports such as Niagara District Airport (YCM) in Canada have seen electricity bills drop from over $1,000 per month to $1006. LEDs, then, do represent a major step forward and we’ll investigate these further elsewhere in this Report. However, further gains come through the installation of a complete, smart lighting system.

Intelligent Lighting Intelligent lighting is often thought of as the ability to turn ground lighting off and on as needed. This has benefits in that it enables airports only to have lights on when they are in use. They can also make it easier to direct landing aircraft, but it’s about much more. Truly intelligent lighting means integrating the system with airfield surveillance and aircraft tracking to optimize aircraft routing to and from gates. By doing so they can save fuel and make the jobs of air traffic controllers easier through improving their situational awareness.

Savings in traffic flow efficiency are small, and incremental, but overall, they add up to a major gain. Airports have reported savings of three minutes per aircraft. Taken over a day, week, month or year, that’s a huge amount of time, energy and effort saved.

Install and Manage your AGL more easily than ever before Contactless Energy & Data Distribution (CEDD ) revolutionizes your Airfield Ground Lighting: ®

• One cable for power & data • No galvanic contact www.induperm.com www.cedd.eu

Contactless Energy

Underpinning these technologies, though, will be revolutionary new connectivity solutions such as Impleo’s CEDD® system. It stands for Contactless Energy and Data Distribution and sees all energy and data sent over a single wire.

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NEXT GENERATION INTELLIGENT AIRFIELD GROUND LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY FOR FUTURE AIRPORT APPROACH, RUNWAY AND TAXIWAY APPLICATIONS

CEDD® simplifies the entire process by bringing this all down to a single wire, which uses wireless technology to communicate both energy and data

Today’s connectivity systems lack the power, sophistication, performance and durability to deliver the fast high-end performance needed for a truly connected and smart lighting system. They are sensitive to the environment, can be affected by bad weather, ice, corrosion, heat and heavy impact and are complicated to install.

CEDD® simplifies the entire process by bringing this all down to a single wire, which uses wireless technology to communicate both energy and data. There are no screw terminals, so no installation tools or materials are required and the system offers one click connection.

When it was installed at Eelde Airport in North Holland it set a new record for installation. Already, it’s proving its value over and above the previous connection systems. There is no requirement for cables in the ground, which can be vulnerable to third party digging, cable breakage and burrowing animals. It is all completed with one cable laid in the runway itself.

“If you compare this system with the traditional systems on airfields, where you need multiphase power, transformer holes, transformers, and then from each transformer hole a wire to each lamp through the runway asphalt,” says Onno de Jong of Groningen Airport Eelde. “That method

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is more complicated, more failure prone and more expensive during installation. Therefore, the CEDD® system is more effective cost-wise, maintenance-wise and in general use.”

With no galvanic connection between the cable and device, engineers simply have to snap the cable onto the device. Installation can also be performed while the system is operational, reducing downtime.

A Flexible System Advanced data distribution injects a huge amount of flexibility into the system. Operators can control and monitor each device remotely – even when installation is taking place. They can check temperatures, which tells them a great deal about the condition and surface of the runway.

It is then a good basis for intelligent lighting systems. They are simple and easy to install with minimal maintenance requirements. They can be configured to work with any system, while the ability to transfer data quickly puts a huge amount of flexibility and control at the operators’ fingertips. CEDD® holds the key to delivering the flexible, responsive and efficient smart lighting system of the future.

NEXT GENERATION INTELLIGENT AIRFIELD GROUND LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY FOR FUTURE AIRPORT APPROACH, RUNWAY AND TAXIWAY APPLICATIONS

Why LEDs Are the Future Jo Roth, Staff Writer LEDs hold the key to lighting the airport of the future, but they are not without

CEDD the Future ®

their challenges.

“

The latest dramatic laser discoveries, made

by General Electric, may someday make the electric light obsolete7,” so wrote GE Engineer Nick Holonyak in 1963. He was referring to the ground-breaking lamp of the future developed by GE. Today, we know it by another name – LED – and It has the potential to revolutionize a number of businesses, from offshore oil to street lights and aviation.

The Lamp of the Future Holonyak’s light emitting diode wasn’t much to shout about. It could emit only red light, but it spawned a multi-colored species of lights which are integral to every part of our lives. They light our streets, they form the basis of the latest iPad screens and they provide illumination in some of the most hazardous environments in the world.

Even then, the potential was clear, as he pointed out. “If these plans work out,” he said, “the lamp of the future may be a speck of metal the size of a pencil-point which will be practically indestructible, will never burn out, and will convert at least ten times as much current into light as does today’s bulb.”

Bold claims indeed and, while modern LEDs might not quite be ever-lasting or indestructible, they are much more hard-wearing, have a longer life-span, require less maintenance, consume less power and emit more light than conventional lighting systems. Small wonder, then, that the market for LEDs is growing so rapidly. The 2016 Global LED Lighting Market Trends Report by LEDinside placed the global LED market at $30.5bn in 20168.

The LED Future Strong market performance is based upon key advantages when compared to traditional halogen tungsten bulbs. These include: •L ower power consumption: LEDs can produce more light with much less power. For example, a project to replace 400Watt incandescent bulbs with 40watt LEDs at Manchester/Boston regional airport is thought to have produced a saving of $42,000 per year9. As the technology

develops the initial price is coming down and the sophistication of each system is improving. Bournemouth Airport, for example, saved 75% of its energy simply by installing LEDs in the carpark10.

•T hey are more durable: Incandescent bulbs can be made to be as tough as possible to endure the harsh environment of an airport, but the simple truth is they are prone to damage.

LEDs with their solid-state filament are much tougher and are resistant to bad weather, corrosion and impact damage.

•T hey last longer: Manufacturers claim LEDs can last at least 50,000 hours, compared to only 2,000 to 4,000 hours for halogen lighting.

Traditional lighting solutions required constant monitoring and maintenance as bulbs were broken or gave out. LEDs last longer and are lower maintenance. In turn this saves money by avoiding additional working hours.

The case for LEDs was given further impetus by the US Department of Energy in 2007 when it implemented the Energy Independence and Security Act which mandated that some incandescent light bulbs beyond a certain level could not be used. Since then, airports have stepped up the pace in replacing traditional incandescent ground lighting with new, state-ofthe-art LED solutions.

A new generation of aircraft has also prompted some to believe a refresh of airfield lighting solutions is becoming more critical. The arrival of the Airbus 380 superjumbo in 2007 stretched existing infrastructure to the limit. Although it strictly complied with the regulations of major international hubs such as Heathrow, its giant size and wide turning circle prompted some to call for longer runways and new lighting systems.

Bigger and More Complex

Install and Manage your AGL more easily than ever before Contactless Energy & Data Distribution (CEDD ) revolutionizes your Airfield Ground Lighting: ®

• One cable for power & data • No galvanic contact www.induperm.com www.cedd.eu

Runways are becoming larger and more complex. Airports such as Heathrow use green colored lighting to guide incoming aircraft into position through green airfield lights. They can control lighting systems according to the needs of incoming aircraft and to optimize energy use.

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NEXT GENERATION INTELLIGENT AIRFIELD GROUND LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY FOR FUTURE AIRPORT APPROACH, RUNWAY AND TAXIWAY APPLICATIONS

The case for LEDs was given further impetus by the US Department of Energy in 2007 when it implemented the Energy Independence and Security Act which mandated that some incandescent light bulbs beyond a certain level could not be used

Such systems offer all sorts of benefits to complex landing fields such as Heathrow but they have enormous energy requirements. At a time when the industry is looking to manage its energy use, LEDs offer an important way to reduce consumption and expenditure.

There are issues with LEDs which will be explored further in the next article. They are a different light source and are perceived differently to traditional airfield lighting solutions. It is therefore, not simply a question of swapping one out for the other. Converting to LED lighting would represent a sizable operation and expense, which is why many have been making the transition in stages. Early LED installations encountered unexpected problems, with some pilots complaining of feeling disorientated or blinded by LED lights. Different spectral patterns sometimes mean people perceive colors differently.

However, today the technology is advancing rapidly – such problems are being identified and addressed. The industry is beginning to better understand LEDs and develop comprehensive systems which offer real value to airports.

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Completing the Transition As they do, major hubs are making the transition to complete LED systems. Dubai International Airport, which recently overtook Heathrow to become the world’s busiest airport, recently installed one of the world’s first complete LED systems. Hella supplied more than 12,000 LED lights for the vast north runway renovation projects, which brings Dubai up-to-date with the latest range of cutting edge lighting technologies. The project will bring a number of benefits including a reduction in downtime, promoting more sustainable operations and reducing maintenance, which they hope will save money while also increasing the number of slots for aircraft they have each day.

Holonyak’s lamp of the future, therefore, is set to form the basis of the next generation of lighting systems. That’s not to say there aren’t issues and problems to be overcome. Airports will have to understand the technology – how it works, what it can do and how it affects people – in order to install an effective system.

NEXT GENERATION INTELLIGENT AIRFIELD GROUND LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY FOR FUTURE AIRPORT APPROACH, RUNWAY AND TAXIWAY APPLICATIONS

Next Generation Lighting: Key Issues for Success James Butler, Staff Writer

CEDD the Future ®

LED lighting offers transformative benefits to airports of all sizes. However, they are not without their problems.

T

HE PREVIOUS t wo ar ticles have concentrated on the benefits on offer from LED lights and integrated airfield lighting systems. These are many and varied, which is why most experts expect them to become the default solution for major airports.

However, they draw on claims made by manufacturers – there’s no guarantee these benefits will translate fully to the real world. A look at the way in which LEDs have worked in airports around the world shows that benefit can depend greatly on how they are installed and used. Equally, although LED technology has made great advances, there are still issues to overcome.

Bright Lights One of the biggest issues is light intensity. Here there are pros and cons. On the plus side, LEDs have been shown to offer a more saturated color.

Halogen tungsten lights change color by using filtered glass. The impact can be washed out and, in some instances, pilots have been known to view white lights as yellow. With LEDs, lights are true and clear. Whites are viewed as white, yellows as yellow.

They also operate at a greater intensity, which is a bonus in low visibility. LEDs effectively slice through fog and heavy cloud, but that intensity can also cause problems. When LED lighting first came into use, airports found the ground lights were often far brighter and more intense than expected. In certain conditions, the brightness of ground lighting would be toned down to a lower step to avoid blinding incoming pilots. With LED fixtures, however, those lower steps did not always result in a proportional lowering of intensity. A study for the Lighting Research Centre11 identified brightness corrective measures for white, blue and green lights to ensure they achieved a correlative reduction in brightness. These have been used with some success to reduce the light intensity of lighting fixtures.

The spectral difference of LEDs can also impact a pilot’s identification of different colored lights.

Some pilots with varying degree of visual color deficiencies have struggled to correctly identify LED lights along the red, blue, green axis.

These problems prompted the FAA to revise its color specifications for lights using LEDs in engineering brief 6712. This places requirements which produce increased color saturation in green signal lights and shifted some white lights away from yellow.

Another factor is the way in which lights are dimmed. LEDs use a process of PWM in which lights are switched on and off hundreds of times per second. This creates the appearance of a solid burning bright light, but the brightness varies depending on how many times the light is switched on and off. That can create some unexpected problems. Certain flicker frequencies may create a phantom array in which pilots see multiple images of the same light when they move their head quickly. Equally, some pilots of propeller driven aircraft have reported that lights appear to vanish momentarily when viewed through the aircraft’s propellers.

Advanced Navigation There are also questions about how compatible LEDs might be with certain enhanced vision technologies. A number of aircraft are being equipped with infrared cameras, which can be immensely helpful in adverse weather conditions.

These cameras can detect tiny changes in temperature giving pilots a clear view even in zero visibility.

These, however, rely on incandescent lights which emit heat and will show up on the scopes.

The problem with LEDs is that they produce bright lights but less heat. There’s a natural concern that new LED installations could potentially render enhanced vision technologies obsolete before they have even started to gain a real foothold in the market.

There are solutions to this. LED systems could

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NEXT GENERATION INTELLIGENT AIRFIELD GROUND LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY FOR FUTURE AIRPORT APPROACH, RUNWAY AND TAXIWAY APPLICATIONS

Some pilots with varying degree of visual color deficiencies have struggled to correctly identify LED lights along the red, blue, green axis

be modified to include infrared light emitters to ensure that they can be picked up by enhanced vision cameras. Alternatively, the cameras themselves could evolve to produce multispectral systems. Rockwell Collins has produced an advanced unit13 which uses three – rather than just one – spectral bands to produce an image.

It’s a reaction to the introduction of LEDs and an attempt to future-proof their cameras against any new developments in lighting technology. It has a classical shortwave infrared camera to pick up normal lighting and other heat generating objects; a longwave IR camera, which is adept at picking up the differences between runway/taxi ways and the surrounding terrain; and a visual light camera which picks up any LED light source. These can all be blended into one single image which is fed through onto the pilot’s head-up display.

Comparison with Halogens As airports consider making the change from traditional halogen lighting, they are performing their own comparative analysis. A report commissioned by London Southend Airport14 into the business case for LEDs showed how performance can vary in certain situations.

The biggest factor likely to deter buyers is the upfront cost. When Billund Airport in Denmark investigated the option of installing LEDs they had to consider the fact that each unit cost e133 more than a standard halogen light fitting. Against this, manufacturers point to lower maintenance costs, lifespan and energy consumption.

The report finds plenty of support for all three claims, but with caveats. Claims by manufacturers often fail to take into account discounts from manufacturers of halogen lighting. Equally, they rely on a best-case scenario. In general terms, LEDs do require much lower maintenance than halogens, but problems have been found 14 | WWW.AIRPORTTECHNOLOGYREPORTS.COM

with winter cleaning. If bulbs are damaged and water ingresses, the lamp will be ruined which can lead to an expensive replacement. It’s crucial to take their weaknesses into account when planning maintenance.

For all the caveats, though, the report is extremely positive about the value on offer from LEDs. These will, it says, become the default lighting option in time. Although some smaller airports with lower traffic may struggle to justify the initial cost through ongoing savings, the report argues that they may believe the superior performance on offer from LEDs will justify the higher cost.

Choosing an Integrated System As well as choosing a light source, airports should consider how these will integrate into a single complete lighting system. Early LED installations have used existing connection infrastructure. However, in the future, systems will be designed to incorporate LEDs from the outset, which can potentially improve performance and reliability.

Advanced contactless connectivity technology is also driving the market forward. These are not only reducing installation time and cost, but they are giving operators greater control over individual lights. This creates a new lighting system which is more agile and responsive, allowing operators to improve efficiency, reduce turnaround and potentially increase capacity.

Thus, there may be a combination of different technologies from different providers. Already we’re witnessing substantial collaboration between individual companies to produce a complete system. As these work together, providing advanced technology which is connected and harmonized, they are further increasing the value on offer from the next generation of airfield lighting systems.

NEXT GENERATION INTELLIGENT AIRFIELD GROUND LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY FOR FUTURE AIRPORT APPROACH, RUNWAY AND TAXIWAY APPLICATIONS

What the Future Holds: The Integrated Airfield Tom Cropper, Editor

CEDD the Future ®

New technologies will be crucial in developing sophisticated, automated and integrated ground lighting solutions.

T

HE AMERICAN scholar John Schaar once said: “The future is not some place we’re going but a place we’re inventing.” This is, in many ways, what’s happening with airport ground lighting. Advances are being driven in part by developments in the marketplace such as increased traffic and higher passenger numbers, but that is being made possible thanks to a new generation of lighting technologies. The future, then, will depend on what technologies are put in place to create it.

LED Lighting Comes of Age It has been a long road for LEDs, but the signs are that airports will continue to move away from traditional halogen lighting systems towards LED. The earliest installations were unable to produce enough power for anything but the smallest applications. Since then they have progressed rapidly, offering greater power and a longer life expectancy to such an extent that they can be used in almost all situations. In August, Brussels Airport became the first in Europe to use a fully LED system for runway and approach lighting15.

Infrastructure is changing. LED systems currently have to work with standard 6.6a aeronautical ground lighting. However, future circuitry will be designed with LEDs in mind which will improve productivity and could lead to further savings in energy. LEDs allow circuits to operate at a lower power. Producing more integrated systems, in which each component is designed to work in harness, will see AGL systems become far more effective.

Solar Power In 2013, London City Airport invested £10,000 to install solar powered LED lighting at runway entry points16. The move is a bid to reduce energy consumption and produce a continuous 24-hour LED warning system.

Kevin Wincell, Airfield Operations Manager at London City Airport, said: “The solar-powered systems will not only save energy and help

reduce the airport’s carbon emissions, they will also represent a financial saving in the longer term. We are currently exploring other options in terms of installing LEDs for airfield lighting and will continue to look for ways in which we can improve energy and cost efficiency by advances in new technology.”

Solar power has been on the radar for some time. It has the potential to provide a reliable source of backup power that is independent of the grid without the need for bulky generators. A mix of solar and conventional electric can also lighten the load and reduce power consumption.

Early systems lacked the reliability or the ability to produce enough power for long enough, but technology has seen rapid advances in solar capabilities. London City Airport’s system, for example, can produce continuous power for 120 days without being recharged.

Smaller and more remote airports can also benefit. The Bahamas Civil Aviation Department uses a solar powered lighting system to improve night flying safety in a cost-effective manner.

They installed a solar-LED lighting system with almost no disruption to operations.

Running costs are almost nothing and, because the solar panels are close to indestructible, maintenance is kept to a minimum. It has previously viewed conventional hard wired electrical power as being cost prohibitive and so investigated ways in which solar power could be incorporated.

Install and Manage your AGL more easily than ever before Contactless Energy & Data Distribution (CEDD ) revolutionizes your Airfield Ground Lighting: ®

• One cable for power & data

The Integrated Airfield

• No galvanic contact

Airports are working to integrate systems across their operations and the airfield is no exception.

The concept of the integrated airfield is one in which air traffic control, security and ground lighting are all pulled together into one system.

Computer-assisted arrival and departure management systems monitor incoming and outgoing traffic to optimize airfield management.

This depends on a smart lighting system which can be controlled to deliver as-needed

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NEXT GENERATION INTELLIGENT AIRFIELD GROUND LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY FOR FUTURE AIRPORT APPROACH, RUNWAY AND TAXIWAY APPLICATIONS

Airports are working to integrate systems across their operations and the airfield is no exception. The concept of the integrated airfield is one in which air traffic control, security and ground lighting are all pulled together into one system.

functionality. Operators could illuminate areas when in use and power them down when they are not. It’s a chance to reduce energy usage and reduce light pollution of the surrounding area.

An example can be seen with the ‘Follow the Greens’ exercise at Frankfurt Airport, which has now been validated by the SESAR European Airports Consortium (SEAC)17. It uses smart LED installations for ground lighting systems to guide incoming aircraft into position. The traditional solution is to communicate with landing aircraft by radio guiding them into their taxiing position.

The ‘Follow the Greens’ concept uses the ground lighting system. With computer-controlled lighting, the airport will ensure that only those lights which are needed remain on, providing a clear pathway for landing aircraft.

How Regulations Can Change As airfield lighting evolves, regulations and guidelines will have to change. A new type of lighting creates different challenges, which is why regulatory bodies such as the FAA will need to change their guidelines. For example, the FAA responded to dazzle issues by replacing three

16 | WWW.AIRPORTTECHNOLOGYREPORTS.COM

step regulators with a five step version specified in Advisory Circular 150/5340-30H18. This allows airports to modulate the brightness of LEDs. They also invited the industry to an LED symposium and are sponsoring the development of an LED flight test plan.

As LED lighting spreads, more challenges will arise which will, in turn, require a new approach from regulators. They will also need to take account of the mixture of light sources as the majority of airports will continue to use a blend of LED and traditional halogen.

The future, then, will see a host of technologies coming together. LEDs will replace old fashioned halogen lighting; intelligent lighting systems will put greater power at the hands of operators, enabling them to improve efficiency and turnover rate. Advanced wireless connectivity will not only reduce the cost and upheaval of installation but accelerate the transmission of power and data.

Bringing all this together into one package will not be easy, which is why multiple operators are joining forces to combine their technologies. The result is something which could prove to be truly transformative for airports of all sizes.

NEXT GENERATION INTELLIGENT AIRFIELD GROUND LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY FOR FUTURE AIRPORT APPROACH, RUNWAY AND TAXIWAY APPLICATIONS

References: 1

T CEDD AGL Launched at Inter Airport Europe: http://www.usetechnology.nl/interairporteurope2015/

2

Airport Lighting Market: http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/airport-lighting-market-1060.html

3

Bahrain Tenders £1bn Airport Upgrade Project:

http://www.constructionweekonline.com/article-30078-bahrain-tenders-at-1bn-airport-upgrade-project/ 4

Top Ten GCC Airport Expansion Projects: https://www.thebig5hub.com/galleries/top-10-gcc-airport-expansion-projects/

5

Airport Profitability: http://www.airport-world.com/features/economics/2691-airport-profitability.html

6

Canadian Airport Lights Way to Success:

http://www.adb-air.com/news-events/success-stories/canadian-airport-lights-the-way-to-increased-business.aspx 7

World’s First LED: http://www.gelighting.com/LightingWeb/emea/news-and-media/news/First-LED-by-the-GE-engineer-Nick-Holonyak.jsp

8

LED Lighting Market to Reach $30.5bn: http://www.ledinside.com/node/24054

9

Manchester/Boston Regional Airport Saves Energy and Money:

http://www.ledsmagazine.com/ugc/2009/09/manchester-boston-regional-airport-saves-energy-and-money-with-led-lighting.html 10

Bournemouth Saves 72% on Carpark Lighting:

http://www.architectsdatafile.co.uk/news/bournemouth-airport-saves-72-per-cent-on-car-park-lighting-costs-by-switching-to-led/ 11

LED Aviation Signal Brightness: http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/solidstate/cr_aviationBrightness.asp

12

Engineering Brief 67: https://www.faa.gov/airports/engineering/engineering_briefs/media/eb-67d.pdf

13

Rockwell Collins: http://www.flyingmag.com/avionics-gear/instrumentaccessories/rockwell-collins-evs-3000-can-detect-led-lighting

14

Sustainable Airport Solutions:

http://archive.northsearegion.eu/files/repository/20141216172102_ROMN13101801-GSAAeronauticalGroundLighting-LR.pdf 15

Brussels Airport is Becoming Europe’s First all-LED Runway:

http://blog.adbsafegate.com/brussels-airport-is-becoming-europes-first-all-led-runway-and-approach-airport/ 16

The Sun Shines at London City Airport: https://www.londoncityairport.com/news/readpressrelease/the-sun-shines-on-london-city-airport-

17

SEAC Successfully Validates Follow the Greens: http://www.sesarju.eu/newsroom/all-news/seac-successfully-validates

18

Advisory Circular: https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/150-5340-30H.pdf

WWW.AIRPORTTECHNOLOGYREPORTS.COM | 17

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