Story ID: 442
FEC Offers NVG-compatible Helipad Lights
By: Mark Huber
Caption: obstruction lights are a key safety feature of any helipad
Word Count: 191
FEC Heliports (Booth N3545) now offers L-810 Red/IR LED obstruction lights with clear lens for night vision goggle (NVG) compatibility in both ground- and pole-mount configurations. They feature a high-visibility yellow cast aluminum body, 50,000-hour rating, pre-wiring for easy installations, and NVG-compatibility testing by Sikorsky. Standards met include CAP 437, ICAO Annex 14, and FAA and CAA and certifications, as well as UL 1598 and ETL Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories ratings.  

According to the company, obstruction lights are a key safety feature of any helipad to mark and illuminate any type of obstruction in and around the landing zone. They can also help the pilot locate the pad obstructions from a safe distance during night operations and in bad weather.

In December, the FAA issued Engineering Brief 98 to provide information about the interaction of light emitting diodes (LEDs) used in obstruction lighting with night vision imaging systems (NVIS) onboard fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft. The brief proposed performance specifications for infrared emitters to be added or used in conjunction with LED L-810, L-864, and L-885 obstruction light fixtures to ensure compatibility with NVGs with a Class B filter.