HVLAS - Helicopter Visual Landing Aid System (N MIL system)

For operation, the system is completed by lighting control panels with optional touch panel to monitor aviation weather, ship movement and wind limitations, as well as to control helideck equipment (e.g. refuelling, GPU and firefighting). The Helicopter Integrated Monitoring & Control System (HCIMCS) offers a complete comprehensive NVG-compatible helideck system solution and is developed on a turnkey basis and meets various customer requirements. In addition to HVLAS lighting, we also offer lighting for the helicopter hangar area and for the helicopter fuelling zone. These lights are fully MIL-tested for EMC, shock and vibration and also include options for NVG and night adaptation colours. 

 

Relevant products for this application:

• HVLAS - Helicopter Visual Landing Aid Systems
• Area lights, floodlights and technical lights for helicopter hangars
• Hazardous area lighting for fuelling zones

 

 

Extremely harsh conditions

Helidecks are exposed to extreme environmental conditions. Seawater, enormously high wind speeds and intense sunlight making high demands on the landing platforms and also on the safety of crews and pilots. A Visual Landing Aids System basically consists of a modular system conformed of state-of-the-art components. This modular system enables various configurations for different requests on naval vessels.

 

Special demands on helideck lighting

HVLAS components meet the challenging physical requirements due to the MIL environmental conditions, operational areas (tropical, Arctic and Antarctic) and Flight Safety First policies. The system is designed to provide illumination, optical references and signal indication during helicopter operations on the helicopter flight deck of seagoing vessels.

 

Important factors when selecting lighting solutions for helidecks:

• High range for the glide path indicator (>5 NM) and exact light distribution due to the use of the latest LED technology and high precision optics.
• Complete NVG-compatible.
• Two modes of operation for the complete system (NVG-mode, Normal-mode).
• High brightness due to LED technology for safe daylight and poor weather operation.
• Outside mounting due to non-corrosive anti-magnetic materials.
• Radar cross-section reduced.
• Proved according to the latest relevant shipbuilding and aviation standards.
• Long lifetime.
• Extremely low lifecycle costs due to LED technology.
• Low mounting and cabling costs due to a fully integrated system.
• Integrated system for all flight deck operations.
• Easy exchange of single components due to a modular system design.
• Minimized maintenance costs and reduced power consumption (high energy efficiency).
• Mechanical strength/impact resistance.

 

Mechanical strength

The development of lighting solutions for helidecks represents a huge challenge in terms of mechanical, electrical and lighting technology. It means that the products have to be extremely robust and must function absolutely reliably across a temperature range from -25°C to +45°C. Maintenance-free LED technology ensures that lights have a long and reliable lifecycle. Due to their use in extreme environmental conditions, helideck lighting products must be robust and durable in many aspects: they must be UV-resistant. The housing should be made from seawater-resistant aluminium. This sensitive technology has to be fully vibration-proof. An IP rating of IP66/67 is recommended for products installed on exposed positions such as helidecks. 

 

No maintenance and reduced power consumption

An important requirement onboard a marine vessel is to install luminaires that are virtually maintenance-free. This reduces or eliminates the labour costs primarily associated with maintenance, servicing and replacement of luminaires in difficult-to-reach locations with either poor access or often no access at all. The luminaires should consume as little energy as possible in order to reduce the size of power generators, save energy and minimise pollution.

 

The efficiency and life span of LED lighting continues to improve. LED luminaires are virtually maintenance-free, which means that vessels with LED lighting will have lower operating costs compared to vessels with conventional luminaires. The initial investment of the LED installation may be higher than a traditional lighting installation, but the LED’s reduced energy consumption and lower maintenance costs means that this price difference will be quickly recouped and payback on the investment is recovered quickly.

 

Approvals

The HVLA System is designed to meet the highest MIL and safety standards for flight safety in maritime environments for Naval use and has been fully tested for MIL EMC, shock and vibration.