The reporter has raised a concern relating to LED lighting intensity levels at multiple capital city airports.
The reporter says that the LED runway and taxiway lighting upgrades at various airports is too bright on the lowest intensity level and that the brightness of the LED lighting is dazzling aircrew during safety critical phases of flight, in particular the landing flare. The reporter advises they have experienced interference and challenges with depth perception during night landings as a direct result of the excessive brightness of the runway lighting.
The reporter states, 'I operate RPT jets into these airports regularly and have repeatedly asked ATC for the lights to be reduced to as low a stage as possible and was told, in multiple airports, that the lighting was on as low a setting as was possible, and in all cases it has been dazzling'.
The reporter acknowledges the LED lighting is effective during times of low visibility, however is excessively bright at night.
The reporter raises the following queries.
- Has effective consultation and review of lighting levels been conducted with pilot groups?
- Has testing been conducted to ensure that the lighting was appropriate for VFR night ops?
This issue was raised informally in discussion at the recent National Runway Safety Group meeting between the pilots' association and airport representatives in attendance with all noting they were aware of the issue and were looking into the matter.
Additionally, the following is a summary of the rules covering intensity, photometrics and chronicity for airfield lighting installations at certified aerodromes:
- Lighting intensity must be controlled so that, in conditions of minimum visibility, a pilot is not subjected to a light output that may have an adverse effect on aviation safety (a hazardous light output).
- Changes in intensity are also limited to successive reductions/increases within a specified range. The minimum intensity also must be reduced to an output which is acceptable and not hazardous.
- The colour of aeronautical ground lights must be verified as being within the acceptable boundaries in the Part 139 manual of standards (MOS), which specific standards for both incandescent and solid state (LED) lights.
The commissioning process, which requires a ground check by a qualified person, must ensure the above standards and all other requirements of the Part 139 MOS are achieved. For some light installations/upgrades, a separate flight check is also required. This process ensures that intensity settings for lights are correct prior to their use.
Whilst the standards are written based on ‘average’ human performance, it is possible that individuals may perceive lights and their intensity differently.
CASA’s standards are intended to provide assurance that intensity settings for airfield ground lights are appropriate and safe for the expected operations, and their ambient conditions. Some persons, however, may perceive lights and their intensity differently.