Wednesday, July 25, 2018

How Airports Swapped To LED FAA Lighting

By Helen Nelson


The Energy Independence and Security Act signed by George Bush on December 2017 is a law that calls for light bulb efficiency. As a result of this, many establishments in the United States have collectively opted to use LED lights, which are more energy efficient. These establishments also include airports. Airports have slowly adopted LED FAA lighting as a means of complying with the rules stipulated in this law.

Light emitting diodes are much better than other lighting systems in many aspects. Incandescent bulbs expend more warmth than energy, while LEDs do the exact opposite. They produce more energy and reduced heat. They also last longer than most other types of lighting.

Research states that LED can last up a hundred thousand hours or at least forty times longer compared to incandescent bulbs. This entails long term benefits like fewer replacements, increased savings, and decreased manual labor. Since LED also emits less warmth, they are much safer than their other counterparts.

They function well with low voltage systems, allowing them to be the more secure option in emergencies involving power complications. Since they are also smaller in size compared to the rest, they can are easily adaptable to multiple other functions. However, despite the fact that they are better for the health of the environment, many still choose to buy inefficient incandescent lights rather than LEDs which are obviously the better option.

This is mainly because of the difference in price. Incandescents usually cost around one dollar, while light emitting diodes can rise up to twenty dollars per piece. What most people cannot acknowledge is that electrical bills are considerably reduced overall with light emitting diodes. This is due to the combination of enhanced ability and lifespan. With fewer replacements in between, expenses are reduced overall. Additionally, they are also brighter in comparison to other systems.

Even airports are slowly adjusting to the switch to help the environment. However, airport personnel and pilots have also run into some issues with the switch, especially since the concern was a relatively new issue for them. The switch mostly began with runways and obstruction lighting.

Even in the least setting, the sheer brightness affected the touchdowns of the airplanes because the perception and view of the pilots were impaired and hindered by the illumination. The other lighting systems in the airstrip were simply no match to light emitting diodes.

In response to the complaints, the Federal Aviation Administration immediately provided a solution to dim the lights. By installing five step regulators, the personnel were able to have better control of the brightness level. Together with inputs from pilots, light adjustments were made to ensure safer landings.

Presently, airports have already expanded the LEDs to tarmacs, hangars, jetways, and other areas. The development of better illuminating systems was done with the help of noting down the issues that arose when the switch was first made. Nighttime visibility issues and passenger safety were considered a primary concern and have since been addressed. Today, airports now generate at least a portion less energy compared to what they had been generating with older incandescent systems. This only shows that if major airlines can handle the swap to eco friendly solutions, others can too.




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