Airport / Runway Lighting

With the number of first-rate radio aids to air navigation available today, it is not surprising that some people imagine that pilots of aircraft no longer rely on their eyes and could quite happily take off, cover vast distances, and land, blind. This is not, however, the case. Highly efficient though radio beams and "talk down" systems may be, known as ILS (Instrument Landing System), there comes a point when touch-down is approaching the pilot's eyes must take over. Though in good weather in daylight their task, coupled with the acquired skill, may not be hard, at night, and particularly when the weather is not so good, they would be almost useless without those visual aids from the ground which the lighting can provide.

Planning these is no simple matter, for they must not only be easy to see but easy to understand, for the techniques of flying by what can be seen or, as it is called, by contact and by instruments are so different that during the approach the pilot cannot return to instrument flying once he has decided to leave it - there simply is not time for him to readjusts his facilities.

There are several good examples of which the way in which lighting is assisting night flying in the UK but one of the best was to be found at London Heathrow Airport in the 1950/60s, where the 'Line and Bar' system, developed by E.S. Calvert at the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough, was used.

The most important feature of the 'Line and Bar' system is the series of transverse bars 500ft apart, which in effect, provide an artificial horizon, when the true horizon cannot be seen. Together with the pilot to line they make it possible for the pilot to hold his aircraft level and to tell at a glance how much he is banking or getting off track as well as helping the ground plane.

The centre line itself composed of Approach Lights equipped with 250w B1 filament projector lamps. At Heathrow these lights forming the 'line' are arranged in groups of three for the first 1,000 feet, in pairs for the second 1,000 feet, and singly for the last 1,000 feet, a scheme which helps the estimation of distance.

The Cross bars are formed of 140 watt sodium floodlights. These gave a wider beam than the centre line lights and their characteristic yellow colour makes them easier to distinguish in built up areas than filament lamps. More over, their size gives texture to the pattern and helps to judge the altitude.

Beyond the line and bars is the runway itself which is defined by more lamps. These are contained in fittings with domed tops and are recessed into the concrete surface so that the aircraft can run over them if necessary. Placed at standard intervals they also help the pilot's judgement of height when making his touchdown.

These fittings presented many design problems, for not only had to be strong, airtight and watertight, but give a beam in the opposite directions so that they would be equally visible from either end of the runway. That these requirements were met by as yet another tribute to British designers and represents but one of many highly specialised problems which had to be overcome.

The Line and Bar approach lighting at London Heathrow Airport (1950s)

In good weather single filament lamps are used on the centreline as shown here

(The cross bars are lit by 140w sodium lighting).

In poor weather conditions the approach lighting at London Heathrow Airport (1950s)

is stepped up considerably. Compare the three-lamp centre line with the picture above.

A close up of one of the bars in the line and bar approach lighting. The circular fitting in the centre contains the 250w B1 filament projector lamp and is part of the centre line, the other fittings use 140w sodium lamps the colour of which makes them more visible in built up areas.

Philips 123E (B1/2) 250w projection Lamp as was used in the Centreline Lighting

Thorn 140w SLI/H type Sodium lamp as was used on the Crossbar and Poor weather lighing

Today’s Approach/Runway lighting which comprises of all Tungsten Halogen lamps.

A Modern Typical Tungsten Halogen Approach/Runway Light

A modern Halogen Airfield Lamp

With the Help of Members of Airport Lighting.com, E-bay, and Robert Cookson, I have built up a collection of Airport /Runway Lamps both Civil and Military from World War II to date

Approach Lighting

Benjamin World War II RAF Airfield Runway Approach Light for a P28s Filament Airfield Lamp.

This Airfield Light is marked A.M.W.D (Air Ministry War Department) type LA/12

I don't know what Airfield it came from

Benjamin World War II RAF Airfield Runway Approach Lights from RAF Tangmere for a P28s Filament Airfield Lamp.

1970/80's GEC ZA125/2A Airfield Runway Approach Light for a J1/27, J1/33 etc BA20s Filament Airfield Lamp.

This light was from RAF Greenham Common

Note Awaiting Refurbishment as the Lamp is Discontinued

1970/80's GEC ZA125/2A Airfield Runway Approach Lights from RAF Benson for a J1/39 G6.35 Halogen Airfield Lamp

1990's ZA413/2A Civil Airfield/Airport Runway Approach Light with 32mm Threaded Stem for a J1/39 G6.35 Halogen Airfield Lamp.

This Light can be seen at Airports throughout the UK

 1990's GEC ZA413/2A Lit with a 12v 50w M32 GY6.35 Halogen Lamp

1990's ZA413/2B Military Airfield Runway Approach Light for a J1/39 G6.35 Halogen Airfield Lamp.

I was told this was used on RAF Bentwaters

1990's ZA413/2B Military Airfield Runway Approach Lights with Ground Spike for a J1/39 G6.35 Halogen Airfield Lamp.

I was told this was used on RAF Bentwaters

1990's ZA415/2B Military Airfield Runway Approach Light with 25mm Threaded stem for a J1/39 G6.35 Halogen Airfield Lamp.

I was told this was used on RAF Finningley made famous in the BBC film Threads (now is renamed Robin Hood Airport)

1990's ZA415/2B Military Airfield Runway Approach Light with 25mm Threaded stem for a J1/39 G6.35 Halogen Airfield Lamp.

This Light was used on RAF Dishforth

1990's GEC ZA415/2B Military Airfield Runway Approach Light with 32mm Threaded Stem for a J1/39 G6.35 Halogen Airfield Lamp.

I was told this was used on RAF Wittering

GEC ZA450/Red Omni-Directional Low Intensity Approach Light with 25mm Mounting Spigot for a J1/39 G6.35 Halogen Airfield Lamp

GEC ZA450/Red Omni-Directional Low Intensity Approach Light restored

1970's GEC (Unknown) Aircraft Carrier Landing Light for a 24v 150w 995-4732 BA20s Military Incandescent Lamp

This Light came off a Aircraft Carrier in Australia

Harley Type 11FA Aircraft Landing Lamp from World War II for a 240v 200w B22d Incandescent Lamp

Harley Type 11FA Aircraft Landing Lamp Details

Runway Lighting

Vintage RAF Red and White Runway Lights for BA15d Auto Bulbs, from World War Two

They would have had a 2ft Diameter Cast Iron Dome with slots over these Lights  and were resessed into the runway

Note these are awaiting New Lamp Holders and Bulbs

Vintage A.G.A. (American Gas Accumulator) Company, Airfield Runway End/Threshold light 

This Light was used by the U.S.A.F. (United States Air Force) in the 1940's

1990's to Date Alstom ZA426 Airfield Runway Threshold Light with 32mm Threaded Stem for a PK30d Halogen Airfield Lamp.

Alstom ZA426 Airfield Runway Threshold Light Repainted and lit

1980's GEC ZA125/2B Military Airfield Runway Threshold Light with 32mm Threaded Stem for a G6.35 Halogen Airfield Lamp.

1980's Thorn CTHCS Airfield/Airport Runway Light Optic Unit for Runway Centreline Light. for a AF6/5 6.6a 100w PG16 Halogen Airfield Lamp

Here you see the Actual Light this optical unit is used in

(Photo from 1989 Thorn Airfield Catalogue)

This Light can be seen at Civil and Military Airfields/Airports throughout Europe

1960/80's National Airport Equipment Co type MB-1 Runway Light with Red and Green Filters for Runway End/Threshold Lighting

Note; This Light was Made in U.S.A. but I bought it from Germany Via E-bay, The Light was sold to the Military as it has NSN 6210-00-299-4616 on the light, The Lamp it uses was Not Supplied but it has a G22 Cap. Users U.S. Air Force or Army Air Bases and U.S. Naval Air Bases. I was told this Light Came from Ramstein Air Base, I also was informed that MB1 = Military Base 1

National Airport Equipment Co type MB-1 Runway Light Fitted with Red and Green Filters for Runway End/Threshold Lighting and lit with a 60w Filament Lamp in a modified ES lampholder

1980's Crouse and Hinds HRLQ Runway Edge Light for GY-GZ9.5 Airport Lamp

1980's Chinese Elevated Runway Edge Light with a Amber Filter for Caution of Runway End

Note I am unaware of the type of lamp it uses I was told it uses a PK30d Lamp but they don't fit

1970's Austeralian GEC V7/748 Unidirectional Hi Intensity Runway Edge Light for BA20s Lamps

This Light can still be found in service in Brisbane and Sydney Airports

Note In 1986 they were upgraded with a BA20s to G6.35 Adaptor to use a J1/57 Airfield Lamp they managed to reach a Peak Intensity of 10000 Candelas.

1990's to Date Alstom (Former GEC) ZA202 Inset Airfield Runway/Taxiway Light with Blue Glass filter for a G6.35 Halogen Airfield Lamp

1960's Crouse and Hinds EOL Twin Taxiway Light for 60/65w ES Filament Lamps

Crouse and Hinds EOL Twin Taxiway Light Lit with a GE 11 watt Energy Saving GLS Lamp with ES cap

1990's to Date GEC ZA216 Low Intensity Omni-directional Elevated Taxiway Edge, Apron or Turning Circle Light with Blue Glass filter for a 36w J1/59 or 45w J1/57 G6.35 Halogen Airfield Lamp

This Light can be seen at Airports throughout the UK

GEC ZA216 Lit with a 12v 50w M32 GY6.35 Halogen Lamp

Vintage Air Ministry Aldis Signalling Light, from World War II

Technically Not a Airfield Runway Light, but was used on Military Airfields by the Control Towers to signal Aircraft  when to Take off and Land etc