Why LED FAA Lighting Is Better For Airports

By Helen Nelson


On the 19th of December, a law that implemented light bulb efficiency was approved by George W. Bush. After the implementation of this law, multiple American business and establishments swapped to LED lights, not because incandescent bulbs were made illegal, but because LEDs are simply the eco friendlier option. Airports, in particular, have experienced the challenges of making this swap. Slowly, they adjusted to LED FAA lighting so as to adhere to the conditions included in the law.

Although the law did not necessarily call for the complete ban of incandescent bulbs, LEDs are simply better in many other aspects. While incandescent bulbs release ninety percent heat and only ten percent energy, LEDs emit only minimal heat and more energy. They also last significantly longer than other sources.

According to research, LED lasts forty times longer than incandescent bulbs or about a whopping fifty thousand to one hundred thousand operating hours. This means fewer replacements, decreased manual labor, and increased savings in the long run. Because LED emits much less heat, they are also the safer option rather than incandescent bulbs.

They can operate on low voltage electricity, making them better at adapting to power concerns. They are also flexible with a range of other functions made possible by their relatively small size. Although in spite of its benefits, more people still opt for inefficient incandescent lights instead of LEDs which are better in various ways.

One primary motivator for this is the fact that incandescents are much cheaper in the initial purchase and LED prices commonly begin at twenty dollars apiece. What most people fail to realize is that electrical costs are considerably lessened in the long term when they opt for light emitting diodes since they can run smoothly on low voltage. Moreover, fewer replacements mean fewer purchases and fewer expenditures. As an added bonus, LEDs are even brighter than 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.

As a solution to the initial complaints, the FAA introduced a solution for better command of the brightness setting of the lights. Instead of three, they installed five step regulators that allowed personnel to have increased control of the light settings. Along with inputs from the pilots themselves, the adjustments were made in order to guarantee safer landings.

Currently, airports have widely expanded the switch to tarmacs, jetways, hangars, and other areas. Issues that arose along with the switch were also noted and used to develop better illuminating systems that are approved by pilots and are more cost efficient for airports. Passenger safety and nighttime visibility issues have also been addressed and airports are now using a fraction less energy than they used to with the previous incandescent systems. This goes to show that if airlines can manage more eco friendly solutions, then the rest of the world can too.




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