JT Aviation College, Kolkata

(Collaboration with MAKAUT, West Bengal)

One year Diploma in Aviation Hospitality & Aviation Management

Semester - 3: Paper Code: DAO 03

Unit: 7 Visual Aids for Navigation

Chapter-3
Lights & Signs

In the day time during poor weather conditions (low visibility) or at

night the visibility reduces considerably, and one is unable to see outside in
darkness. Thus, it becomes essential to provide adequate guidance by
providing various types of lights of different colours and pattern, which
should convey the similar information to the plot in the night as the
markings do in the day time.

Aeronautical ground light:

Any light specially provided as an aid to air navigation, other than a
light displayed on an aircraft is considered as aeronautical ground light.

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Non-aeronautical light:
A non-aeronautical light near an aerodrome which by reason of its
intensity, configuration or colour, might prevent, or cause confusionin
the clear interpretation of aeronautical ground lights and should be
extinguished, screened or otherwise modified so as to eliminate such a
possibility.

Laser emission which may endanger the safety of aircraft:

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 Under certain conditions, laser light or other bright lights (spotlights,
searchlights) directed at aircraft can be a hazard. The most likely scenario
is when a bright visible laser light causes distraction or temporary flash
blindness to a pilot, during a critical phase of flight such as landing or take-
off.
Improperly used laser devices are potentially dangerous. Effects can
range from mild skin burns to irreversible injury to the skin and eye. The
biological damage caused by lasers is produced through thermal, acoustical
and photochemical processes.
Pointing a laser at an aircraft can be hazardous to pilots, and has
resulted in arrests, trials and jail sentences. Some jurisdictions such as New
South Wales, Australia have restricted laser pointers as a result of multiple
incidents.
To protect the safety of aircraft against the hazardous effect of
laser and to mitigate the risk of operating laser emitters in the vicinity of
aerodromes, following protected zones shall be established around the
aerodrome:
 a laser-beam free flight zone (LFFZ)
 a laser-beam critical flight zone (LCFZ)
 a laser-beam sensitive flight zone (LSFZ)

Types of aeronautical ground Lights

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Elevated lights:
The lights which are provided above the ground are called elevated
lights. The elevated lights shall be frangible and their heights shall be
sufficiently low to preserve clearance for propellers and for the engine pods
of jet aircraft.

Surface lights (inset type):

Light fixture inset in the surface are called surface light or inset
lights.Inset lights shall be designed and fitted so as to withstand being run
over by the wheels of an aircraft without damage either to the aircraft or to
the lights themselves.

Light intensity & Control

In dusk or poor visibility conditions by day, lighting can be more
effective than markings. For lights to be effective in such conditions or in
poor visibility by night, they must be of adequate intensity and therefore a
suitable intensity control shall be incorporated to allow for adjustment of
light intensity to meet the prevailing conditions.

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Effect of FOG
Fog is consisting of minute water droplets or ice crystals suspended
in the air at or near the Earth's surface. Fog can be considered a type of low-
lying cloud, usually resembling stratus, and is heavily influenced by nearby
bodies of water, topography, and wind conditions. Presence of Fog
affect the visibility and therefore illumination/intensity control is
essentially required for almost all aeronautical ground lights provided at
airport.
Emergency Lighting
At an aerodrome provided with runway lighting and without a
secondary power supply, sufficient emergency lights shall be conveniently
available for installation on at least the primary runway in the event of
failure of the normal lighting system.
Note: Emergency lighting may also be useful to mark obstacles or delineating
taxiways and apron areas.

Aerodrome beacon:
Aerodrome beacon used to indicate the location of an aerodrome
from the air.

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 • The aerodrome beacon shall show either coloured flashes
alternating with white flashes, or white flashes only.
• At land aerodrome - the coloured flashes shall be green and white.
• At water aerodrome – the coloured flashes shall be yellow and
white.

Aeronautical beacon:

An aeronautical ground light visible at all azimuths, either

continuously or intermittently, to designate a particular point on the
surface of the earth.

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Approach lighting System (ALS):
Lights of different patterns are provided in the approach area of the
runway to guide the pilot to align with the centre-line of the runway and in
some cases it also provides distance information. In fact, it also helps to
identify the correct runway during night time in the absence of any light to
indicate runway designation.
Different types of approach lighting systems are provided at airports
depending upon the type of operation.
Simple Approach Lighting System
A simple ALS shall consist of a row of lights on the extended
centre line of the runway extending wherever possible, over a distance of
not less than 420 m from the threshold with a row of lights forming a
crossbar 18 m or 30 m in length at a distance of 300 m from threshold.

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Precision Approach Lighting System
PAR CAT-I
Precision approach CAT-I lighting system shall consist of a row of
lights on the extended centre line of runway extending, wherever, possible
over a distance of 900 m from the runway threshold with a row of lights
forming a crossbar 30 m in length at a distance of 300 m from the
threshold.
Note: The installation of ALS of less than 900 m in length may result in operational
limitations on the use of runway.

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PAR Cat-II & III

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Standard visual approach slope indicator systems
Precision Approach Path Indicator (PAPI)
The PAPI system shall consist of a wing bar of 4 sharp transition
multi-lamp (or paired single lamp) units equally spaced. The system shall
be located on the left side of the runway unless it is physically impracticable
to do so.
Note: Where a runway is used by aircraft requiring visual roll guidance which is not
provided by other external means, then a second wing bar may be provided on the
opposite side of the runway.

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Runway Edge Lights
Runway edge lights are provided to indicate the edge of the runway.
Runway edge lights shall be placed along the full length of runway and shall
be in two parallel rows equidistant from the centreline.
Runway edge lights shall be placed along the edges of the area
declared for use as the runway at a distance of not more than 3 m. Lights
shall be uniformly placed in rows at intervals of not more than 60 m.

 When threshold is displaced from its original position to a new

location, the runway edge lights between the beginning of runway
and up to displaced threshold will show red in the direction of
approach.

 Runway edge lights shall be fixed lights showing variable white

except that a section of the lights 600 m or 1/3 of the runway length
whichever is less at the remote end may show yellow.

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Runway Threshold & Wingbar Lights
Threshold lights are unidirection lights showing green in the
direction of approach. Lights shall be placed in a row at right andles to the
runway axis (not less than 6 lights or lights equidistant between the
runway edge lights all along the width of runway) and shll be installed not
more than 3 m outside the extremity.

 In case of threshold is displaced, then at the threshold lights shall be

at the displaced threshold.

 In case inset lights are not available, displaced thresholds are

installed as wing bar with minimum 5 lights each side showing as a
wing.

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Runway end lights
Runway end lights are provided to indicate the end of runway.
Runway end light shall consist of at least 6 lights. Lights shall be
unidirectional (in the direction of approach) and shall be red in colour.

Runway Centre line lights

Runway centreline lights shall be provided on a precision approach
runway CAT-II or CAT-III.
Runway centreline lights shall be located along the centreline of the
runway except that lights may be uniformly offset to the same side of
runway centreline by not more than 60 cm.

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 Runway centreline lights shall be fixed lights showing variable white
from the threshold to the point 900 m from the runway end.

Alternate red and variable white from 900 m to 300 m from the
runway end and Red from 300 m to the runway end except that for runway
less than 1800 m in length the alternate red and variable white lights shall
extend from the mid-point of the runway usable for landing to 300 m from
the runway end.

Runway Touchdown zone lights

Touch down zone lights shall be provided in the touch down zone of a
precision approach CAT-II or CAT-III.

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 Touch down zone lights shall extend from threshold for a longitudinal
distance of 900 m.Pairs of barrettes symmetrically located about the
runway centreline shall form the pattern. Touch down zone lights shall be
fixed unidirectional lights showing variable white.
Taxi-way Centre-line lights
Taxiway centreline lights on taxiway other than an exit taxiway shall
be fixed lights showing greenwith the beam dimension such that the light is
visible only from aeroplanes on or in the vicinity of the taxiway.

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Taxiway edge lights
Taxiway edge light shall be provided at uniform longitudinal intervals
ofnot more than 60 m. The lights on a curve shall be spaced at intervals less
than 60 m so that a clear indication of curve is provided. Taxiway edge
lights are blue in colour.

Taxiway edge light on a runway turn pad shall be spaced at uniform

longitudinal intervals of not more than 30 m. The lights shall be located as
near as practicable to the edges of taxiway, runway turn pad, etc. or outside
the edges at a distance of not more than 3 m.

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Runway Turn pad lights

Runway turn pad lights shall normally be located on the runway turn
pad marking (offset by not more than 30 cm).On straight section of the
runway turn pad spacing shall be not more than 15 m and on curved
section not exceeding 7.5 m.
Runway turn pad shall be unidirectional fixed lights showing
green with beam dimensions such that the light is visible only from
aeroplane on or approaching the turn pad.

Intermediate holding position lights

Intermediate holding positions lights are provided at an intermediate
holding position (Taxiway intersection)
Lights shall consist of three fixed unidirectional lights showing
yellow in the direction of approach to the intermediate holding position.

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The lights shall be disposed symmetrically about an right angle to the
taxiway centreline with individual lights spaced 1.5m apart.

Runway guard lights

The runway guard lights is provided to warn the pilots and drivers of
the vehicle when they are operating on taxiways that they are about to
enter the runway.

Apron Flood Lights

Apron flood lighting shall be provided on an apron and on a
designated isolated aircraft parking position intended to be used at
night.Apron flood lights shall be located so as to provide adequate

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illumination on all apron service areas, with the minimum glare to the
pilots of aircraft in flight at on the ground, aerodrome and Apron
Controllers and personnel on the apron.
The arrangements and aiming of flood lights shall be such that an
aircraft stand receives light from two or more direction to minimize
shadows. Illumination level- horizontal illuminance = 20 lux, vertical
illuminance = 20 lux at a height of 2m above the apron in relevant direction.

Visual Docking & Guidance System

Visual docking guidance system shall be provided when it is intended
to indicate by visual aid the precise position of an aircraft on an aircraft
stand. The system shall provide both azimuth at stopping guidance.

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Signs

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 Signs shall be provided to convey:-
1. A mandatory instruction,
2. Information on specific location or destination on a movement
area

Signs shall be either fixed message signs or variable signs. Signs shall
be frangible and are located near a runway or taxiway. Signsshall be
sufficiently low to preserve clearance for propellers and the engine pods of
the aircraft. Signs shall be rectangular with the longer side horizontal.

Mandatory sign - Red background with white lettering.

Information signs – two types :

 Direction sing and
 location sign.

Direction sign – Yellow background with black lettering.

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Location sign – Black background with yellow lettering.

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Aircraft stand identification sign
An aircraft stand identification sign shall be located so as to be clearly
visible from the cockpit of an aircraft prior to entering the aircraft stand
and it consist of an inscription in black on a yellow background.

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