Airport Lighting System Clinceni

Clinceni aerodrome

The Clinceni aerodrome is located south west of Bucharest. It has two parallel runways with a lenght of 1000m, oriented on directions 06 and 24, suited for gliders and light aircraft: a grass runway, used mainly for the glider, and a concrete runway. The low buildings and plain landform in the surrounding area of the aerodrome make it an ideal place for aeronautical activities, such as flight lessons, competitions and leisure flights.

Airport lighting system

For this project we used a complex VISTA system with 14 circuits: 8 circuits with brightness control, and 5 circuits powered from 230V, in which the devices dim automatically to 10% during night time. TAXI edge lights are powered into a serial conection with constant current. Therefore, we used the following 14 independent circuits:

runway edge lights – two interleaved circuits with brightness control in 5 steps
inset threshold lights direction 06 – two interleaved circuits with brightness control in 5 steps
inset threshold lights direction 24 – two interleaved circuits with brightness control in 5 steps
runway threshold identification lights direction 06 – powered from the V4 controller (230V), with photocell
runway threshold identification lights direction 24 – powered from the V4 controller (230V), with photocell
APAPI system direction 06 – with brightness control in 5 steps
APAPI system direction 24 – with brightness control in 5 steps
runway guardlights – powered from the V4 controller (230V), with photocell
taxi edge lights
wind direction indicator – powered from the V4 controller (230V), with photocell
runway and taxiway signs – powered from the V4 controller (230V)

Power, control and monitoring unit

All the circuits are powered, controlled and monitored by the V4 controller. The control is made using the local console.

Power circuits

Local control

There is the possibility of controlling the airport lighting system using a console with LCD touch screen, located close to the V4 controller. There are predetermined scenarios, but the user can change the brightness step of any adjustable circuit:

Landing/Take off from direction 06 at night:

The runway lights and the threshold are powered at 3% brightness and the TAXI edge lights (TEL), runway guard lights (RGL), runway threshold identification lights (RTIL), signs and wind direction indicator (WDI) are switched on. Runway guard lights (RGL) and runway threshold identification lights (RTIL) will have 10% of the brightness because of the photocell sensor. Only the precision approach path indicator (APAPI) and runway threshold identification lights (RTIL) from direction 06 are powered, and the ones from direction 24 are turned off.

Landing/Take off from direction 24 at night:

The runway lights and the threshold are powered at 3% brightness and the TAXI edge lights (TEL), runway guard lights (RGL), runway threshold identification lights (RTIL), signs and wind direction indicator (WDI) are switched on. Runway guard lights (RGL) and runway threshold identification lights (RTIL) will have 10% of the brightness because of the photocell sensor. Only the precision approach path indicator (APAPI) and runway threshold identification lights (RTIL) from direction 24 are powered, and the ones from direction 06 are turned off.

Landing/Take off from direction 24 during the day:

The runway lights and the threshold are not powered and the runway guard lights (RGL) and runway threshold identification lights (RTIL) are switched on. Runway guard lights (RGL) and runway threshold identification lights (RTIL) will have 30% of the brightness because of the photocell sensor. Only the precision approach path indicator (APAPI) and runway threshold identification lights (RTIL) from direction 24 are powered, and the ones from direction 06 are turned off.

Landing/Take off from direction 06during the day:

The runway lights and the threshold are not powered and the runway guard lights (RGL) and runway threshold identification lights (RTIL) are switched on. Runway guard lights (RGL) and runway threshold identification lights (RTIL) will have 30% of the brightness because of the photocell sensor. Only the precision approach path indicator (APAPI) and runway threshold identification lights (RTIL) from direction 06 are powered, and the ones from direction 24 are turned off.

ALCMS – Remote control from tower

Airfield Lighting Control and Monitoring System (ALCMS) is a monitor with a 27 inches touch screen and computer intergrated, connected to the V4 controller, located in the control tower. The airport lighting system control is managed from an application containing the predetermined scenarios listed above. It includes pilot view, a user access function, an action log and an error log.

Monitoring

Every serial circuit is monitored for open loop failures. In case the serial circuit is interrupted, the power supply is cut off and an error is signaled.

The parallel circuits powered from 230V AC are monitored for possible earth leakage.