A guide to specialised lighting & signage at airports

Having the right tools and equipment at the ready is vital for any airline, and this is true even down to the signs and lights that adorn buildings and runways. Without these helpful fixtures, airports would be at much greater risk from crashes, injuries, and even just inconvenience. Airports need the safety and stability that a mixture of clear signage and specialised lighting can give – they help everyone on the ground and in the air stay safe.

Everyone knows where to go

Airports are often a place of sheer chaos, with so many people using them at all hours of the day. These people rely upon the building’s guidance to help them get where they need to go. It also ensures that the airport’s foot traffic is as efficient as possible with fewer busy queues. With clear and consistent signage across the airport, there will be less congestion and disorder.

Good airport signage is also a core part of how pilots reliably land planes – airlines use colour-coded signage to show where drivers and pilots can and cannot take their respective vehicles. This allows everyone to go safely to their destination, from taxiing on the runway and beyond.

They allow for flying in the dark

Long-distance flights, especially ones crossing multiple time zones, are likely to either start or end in the dark; this makes good lighting essential for any airport. Airfield ground lights are in different colours to denote their functions and are vital visual aids for pilots – they are what let pilots see where to land when it’s dark. This alone makes them essential, and better lighting naturally makes it easier for the pilot and improves safety across the board.

Apron floodlighting is fundamental to any airport; this illuminates the area where a plane loads passengers, refuels, or undergoes maintenance. The time of day, or even just the weather conditions, can make essential work more difficult – this means every airline needs high-grade apron floodlighting to facilitate these functions. Ultimately, the better the lighting, the easier it is for people to see where they are going and what they need to do.

They are easily controllable

There are several measures in place to give airports control over their lighting. For example, Airfield Lighting Control and Monitoring Systems (ALCMS) gives qualified staff members a simple way to turn individual (or groups of) lights on or off wherever necessary. This is a relatively recent innovation – but is still invaluable for monitoring the use and intensity of an airport’s lighting systems on a taxiway, runway, or apron.

Airport lighting also commonly uses photometry to measure the light and ensure it stays at a consistent and safe level – and that technicians can conduct maintenance at a moment’s notice. With lighting an essential component of airport safety, tracking its effectiveness is vital.

Bayanat Engineering can provide the best solutions to help your airport – both passengers and staff will feel much safer with clear signage and lighting.

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