SP-401 aviation light is the key element of solar helipad lighting. This intelligent lighting unit is solar-powered and wirelessly controlled. ICAO-compliant optics generates correct light output in terms of intensity and chromaticity.
SP-401 solar helipad TLOF light is green colour lighting unit equipped with built-in large power bank and powered by solar panel. The standard lighting unit is equipped with an external military-grade external charging port. Separately installed solar-panel supported by maximum power point tracking ensures high-speed charging.
Encoded wireless control and monitoring of the lighting unit is using radio transceiver and sensitive antenna. Lighting unit is equipped with an external switch and battery level indicator. Those two are used mainly as a backup. Frangible mounting is used to fix SP-401 to concrete or asphalt surface.
The lighting used at helipads needs to meet an array of requirements set by the International Civil Aviation Organization. The safety of night flight operations depends on the lighting. Since LED lightbulbs started to be used, there’s been a revelation in airport and helipad lighting thanks to the use of solar lighting. Stay with us and find out what it was all about. Today, we want to elaborate on helipad solar lighting – TLOF zone lights.
One can notice a few different zones designated within a helipad. Among them, the most important are the TLOF area (located in the central landing area) and the FATO zone that surrounds TLOF. TLOF refers to Touchdown and Lift-off area. FATO means Final Approach and Take-off zone. Both the zones can be in the shape of a circle, rectangle or square.
Helipads that carry out night operations need to be properly illuminated. Not all of the helipads are equipped with a full set of lights but the following areas must be illuminated obligatorily: The FATO zone, TLOF area, wind direction indicator and taxiway.
At least four green and omnidirectional lights are used to mark the TLOF area. If the area is in the shape of a square or rectangle, the lights need to be placed in the corners primarily. The distance between the lights depends on a helipad type. It is 3 meters for lifted helipads and 5 meters for ground helipads. The lamp cases cannot stick out above the helipad surface for more than 25 meters. If there is a threat of a collision with a helicopter, they need to be installed flat with the surface.
A fully-charged solar lamp will work for up to 85 hours if it is using its lowest-intensity level. If it is working in a maximum-intensity mode, the lamp will sustain 25 hours of work. The lifetime of LED lamps reaches 50 000 hours. Also, the lamps are equipped with an exchangeable optic warhead.
One needs to notice that the lamps used at helipads are highly exposed to external conditions influences. Therefore, they need to meet special requirements:
When it comes to solar lighting (especially airport solar lighting where reliability is of primary importance), this one question always arises: what if there are bad weather conditions? The newest solutions prove that the weather is not a problem anymore. Helipad lighting (including TLOF zone lights) can be charged in three independent ways. The first one is, of course, a solar battery. If needed, the lamps can also be charged by a charging station that is included in the lighting set. Finally, each lamp can be charged with an electric power grid.
Both control and monitoring of TLOF solar lighting can be handled remotely with UR-201 Control & Monitoring Unit or UR-101 Handheld Controller. Either a pilot or an airport crew member can be the operator. The system is equipped with an emergency on/off switch and an automatic light intensity control system. It adjusts the light intensity level if the battery level is low.
