Mumbai airport has been a hub of construction activity for the last two years, and it has been a common occurrence that contract workers have unwittingly cut underground electric cables, thereby leading to blackouts on the taxiways.
In spite of frequent power cuts, airport authorities have not thought of having the option of solar lights to guide aircrafts on-ground, so far.
“Solar lights are the answer to such electricity failures. Why cannot we have solar lights placed between two electronic lights on the runway or taxiways? They are foolproof,” says Shashi Honawar, managing director, Cosmic Traffic Systems Pvt Ltd. “Whenever there is a power failure during night, these lights will automatically switch on and help the aircraft land or taxi,” he says.
A day’s charge on these solar lights can last for 30 days. “There have been instances when even the back-up generator has failed. During such exigencies, these (solar) lights are very useful,” says Honawar. “Moreover, their visibility is as good as normal lights. For instance, solar runway lights have visibility of six nautical miles while taxiway lights have for four nautical miles,” he says.
Most of the airports in the UK, US, Africa and Middle East are going green by using solar-powered lights for taxiways and runways. The Gold Coast airport in Queensland, Australia, has solar taxiway lights. Britain’s Royal Air Force is reported to have ordered over 700 radio-controlled solar taxiway lights to be used at one of their bases. The Louisiana transport department is testing solar-powered runway lights as the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) of the US wants to recommend it nationwide.
According to Captain David de Figueiredo, a retired pilot, solar-powered light is a good option. “The only problem will be to recharge them during monsoon when there is cloud overcast,” he says.
