Aerodrome Beacon

VISUAL AIDS FOR NAVIGATION. MARKINGS AND LIGHTS.

Additional visual aids to navigation consist of markings on the aerodromes. These markings comprise single lines or rows of lines which, for the pilot, are very important for holding positions, runway thresholds, the runway centre lines, the sides of the runways, etc…

However, at night or during poor visibility by day, lights are required. For lights to be effective they must be of adequate intensity. At certain aerodromes the controller can vary the intensity of some of the lights so that they can be reduced to avoid momentarily blinding the pilot and strong enough so that he can see them in thick weather.

The first light a pilot sees on approach is generally the aerodrome beacon. It may rotate and can be seen at a great distance distinguishable by its colored flashes alternating with white, or white only. There might be an identification beacon which shows green flashes of light which identify the aerodrome in Morse code. Red lights, the usual danger signal, warn pilots of the obstacles such as hangers and other high buildings, telephone poles, etc. Runway edge lights identify the runway and approach lights assist the pilot to align himself with the runway.

Lights may also be used to provide a glide path similar to what an ILS provides electronically. The Visual Approach Slope Indicator System, better known as VASIS, is a beam of light having a white colour in its upper part and a red color in its lower part. A pilot of an airplane during an approach will:

a) when above the approach slope, see the lights to be white in colour;

b) when on the approach slope, see the lights to be pink in colour; and

c) when below the approach slope, see the lights to be red in colour.

By reference to VASIS, combined with ILS, the pilot can bring an aircraft down safely almost to touchdown by day or night. After landing, he follows the blue taxi lights along the taxiway to the apron and the service areas. At the service area a marshaller, with illuminated wands, directs the aircraft with signals to its proper position for unloading and, finally, signals pilot to cut his engines.

Lighting

ü Aerodrome Beacon

ü Identification Beacon

ü Runway edge lights

ü VASIS and PAPI

ü Approach Lighting System

ü Ground movement Lighting System

Aerodrome Beacon

An aerodrome beacon or rotating beacon is a beacon installed at an airport or aerodrome to indicate its location to aircraft pilots at night.

An aerodrome beacon is mounted on top of a towering structure, often a control tower, above other buildings of the airport. It produces flashes not unlike that of a lighthouse.

Airport and heliport beacons are designed in such a way to make them most effective from one to ten degrees above the horizon; however, they can be seen well above and below this peak spread. The beacon may be an omnidirectional flashing xenon strobe, or it may rotate at a constant speed which produces the visual effect of flashes at regular intervals. Flashes may be of just a single color, or of two alternating colors.

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