Effective airfield lighting is crucial for ensuring the safety and efficiency of aircraft operations, especially during night time and adverse weather conditions.
In New Zealand, unique geographical and environmental challenges increase the complexity of the installation, maintenance and repair of airfield lighting systems – something that we, at Up N Atom Electrical, are intimately familiar with as experienced airfield lighting technicians. Benefit from our experience in this article, and learn how to overcome these challenges as a curious professional yourself:
Geographical and Weather Challenges
New Zealand has an extremely diverse landscape, ranging from rugged mountainous regions to sprawling coastal areas. Whilst beautiful, these landscapes present a very unique challenge to any airfield lighting system. Adverse weather conditions are common – specifically, high winds, heavy rainfall and fog – and impact the visibility across an airfield. This limits the functionality of the airfield lighting.
To resolve this, we recommend constructing airfield lighting with more durable, corrosion-resistant materials. The use of LEDs as opposed to traditional bulbs also demonstrate better performance in times of bad weather, and across numerous landscapes. These lights are lasting, dependable and strong – your airfield lighting will remain visible, no matter what.
Regulatory Compliance
Airfield lighting systems must comply with strict international and local regulations, a challenge that can be easier said than done. In New Zealand, the Civil Aviation Authority oversees and sets all of these regulations in a clear and concise manner. To overcome the challenge of adhering to these numerous regulations, we recommend instating regular inspections and audits at your airfield by relevant regulatory bodies – such as the CAA – to ensure all on-site airfield lighting systems remain compliant and up to standard.
If the technology changes, or new regulations are instated, always make sure that your airfield lighting keeps up.
Technological Integration
Many airfields in New Zealand have existing infrastructure that dates back some time. Implementing new technologies to meet the evolving regulations can therefore be difficult. Sometimes, the existing infrastructure simply isn’t suitable for outright replacement! We recommend a phased implementation of newer and more powerful automated airfield lighting solutions instead.
Take the installation process step by step to avoid any disruption to the operation of your airfield, and consider purchasing smart lighting systems. Smart technology enables you to remotely access and control your airfield lighting, enhancing your operational efficiency whilst these drastic changes are carried out.
Navigating the challenges of airfield lighting in New Zealand requires the assistance of a dedicated airfield lighting technician. Contact Up N Atom Electrical in Auckland, and benefit from our years of expertise in airfield lighting and the resultant quality of our workmanship.
