In an effort to replace incandescent lights with more efficient LEDs, as mandated by the U.S. Department of Energy, the FAA has been testing LED lighting for airport runways for 10 years and is now testing them for approach lights. According to NBAA, which attended a recent FAA symposium on LEDs, “The agency said it intends to sponsor the development of an LED flight-test plan, which will include all the appropriate FAA services and offices, as well as input from those in the aviation industry.”
Problems with LEDs stem from airports installing them on runways without matching their intensity to that of the approach lights, causing pilots to be dazzled by the brighter LEDs. There is also concern that LEDs have not been tested with enhanced vision systems, night-vision goggles and HUDs, and that simulators are not equipped to acquaint pilots with airport LEDs.
The FAA said that airports in the U.S. have not yet installed LEDs in approach lighting systems, except at the FAA’s William J. Hughes Technical Center in Atlantic City, N.J. Airports are supposed to report installation of LEDs to the FAA, which is building an LED database. Meanwhile, NBAA is seeking reports from pilots about LED problems.