Any CAA standards imposed on private airfield lighting for night operations?

[irish seaplane]

Hi,
We have had a recent change in the legislation here in Ireland, and basically night VFR became legal in class G and class C airspace. The laws previously provided for Special VFR operations at night only in Class C. Now airfields licensed or not can apply for approval from the IAA for night time operations. Indeed the wording is open enough that it doesn't need to be an airfield so helipads etc would all be open for consideration.

https://www.iaa.ie/index.jsp?p=100&n...n=599&lID=1126

Given we had been "in the dark" over here with regard to private airfields and night time operations I wanted to see if the CAA had any guidance or standards imposed for lighting of private airfields in the UK. I have seen some of the lights in Bagby, Fadmoor, Full Sutton and Finningley Village. They work but didn't seem to be specialist installations. It seems like you could do a CAD drawing and lay them out at specific spacings, give the spec for the light itself and you would have system that's viable for reasonable outlay. The other system I had seen is the one that was in Pilot Mag called Merlin Magic which uses a GSM switch. If there was a guidance document from the CAA I would be in with a chance of meeting a tested standard and perhaps getting approval.

Thanks,

[piperboy84]

SOLAR WHITE LED MARKERAIRPORT EDGE MARKER from Aircraft Spruce
I have several of these scattered around, works just fine.

[irish seaplane]

Yep. I had some of those for some guidance close to twilight but never after 😊 and I found them ok. What I really wanted was what do the CAA say (if anything) about the topic. Given the Irish copy the CAA as much as possible it would be more than helpful to find what works in the UK. My understanding was there was nothing prescribed and you could land with car headlamps lighting the strip if you dared to try it. The FAA have some guidance and I might just have to go on that.

[fireflybob]

Surely the lights only have to be "approved" (legally) for a licensed airfield?

If it's your own private airfield it's owner's risk (although maybe insurance could be a factor).

[riverrock83]

As is said - in the UK you can do what you want at non-licenced strips with regards lighting.

For licensed aerodromes, see https://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAP168.PDF
Look at Chapter 6 (from page 173 of the pdf).
There is a sliding scale, at the bottom of, the requirement is

• a beacon
• low intensity APAPI
• low intensity threshold, edge and stop way lights
• obstacles lit up
• windsock lit

[Sir George Cayley]

Well nearly,

There is the ANO and the "Dangerous or confusing lights.....article.

SGC

[NorthSouth]

For unlicensed aerodromes CAP 793 para 7.2 says:
CAA permission is not required for the installation of aeronautical ground lighting at an unlicensed aerodrome. However, if the aeronautical ground lighting is considered to be a hazard which is liable to endanger an aircraft, the CAA has the right to request the lighting be extinguished or screened in accordance with Article 221 of the ANO 2009.

It also offers some advice on positioning of lights.

[irish seaplane]

Thanks Northsouth. That's just the reference I was looking for!

[fireflybob]

221 Lights liable to endanger
(1) A person must not exhibit in the United Kingdom any light which:
(a) by reason of its glare is liable to endanger aircraft taking off from or landing at an aerodrome; or
(b) by reason of its liability to be mistaken for an aeronautical ground light is liable to endanger aircraft.

I feel this is more to cover lights other than aerodrome lighting such that users displaying such lights can be legally required to extinguish them:-

(2) If any light which appears to the CAA to be a light described in paragraph (1) is exhibited, the CAA may direct the person who is the occupier of the place where the light is exhibited or who has charge of the light, to take such steps within a reasonable time as are specified in the direction:
(a) to extinguish or screen the light; and
(b) to prevent in the future the exhibition of any other light which may similarly endanger aircraft.

If it's a "private" airfield there is no statutory requirement to have any lighting at all for "private" flights subject the provisos above. Duty of care and insurance are other matters which may apply.