XN000022-1977-12-04 — Page 3

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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1977

NEW AIRCRAFT GUIDING LIGHT SYSTEM ******

A SEQUENCED STROBE LIGHTING SYSTEM HAS BEEN PUT INTO OPERATION AT THE HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO IMPROVE VISUAL GUIDANCE OF AIRCRAFT LANDING AT NIGHT AND IN POOR VISIBILITY.

THE SYSTEM CONSISTING OF 12 STROBE LIGHTS WAS BROUGHT INTO USE AFTER EXTENSIVE TESTS RECENTLY BY THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT.

EACH OF THE STROBE LIGHTS HAS A LIGHTING INTENSITY OF 13,700 LUMENS AND IS INSTALLED IN SERIES ON ROOFTOPS OR HIGH GROUND. THE LIGHTS ARE ANGLED IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEY GIVE OPTIMUM LIGHT OUTPUT TO THE PILOTS BUT MINIMAL

INTERFERENCE TO RESIDENTS.

THE FIRST OF THESE LIGHTS IS LOCATED AT TAT CHEE AVENUE IN YAU YAT CHUEN AND THE LAST IN PRINCE EDWARD ROAD AT A POINT OPPOSITE THE AIRPORT.

THESE LIGHTS FLASH TWICE A SECOND IN SEQUENCE, PROVIDING A DIRECTIONAL RIPPLING LIGHT EFFECT TOWARDS THE RUNWAY.

THIS WILL HELP PILOTS TO FLY THE CURVE ALONG THE APPROACH PATH WHERE THEY HAVE TO DEPEND ENTIRELY ON EYE SIGHT. BEFORE ENTERING THIS SECTOR, PILOTS CAN DEPEND ON THE INSTRUMENT GUIDANCE SYSTEM FOR APPROACH.

THE SYSTEM, BUILT AT A COST OF OVER $500,000, IS TRIGGERED ON OR OFF BY RADIO SIGNALS FROM THE CONTROL TOWER AT THE AIRPORT.

THE LIGHTS WILL BE ACTIVATED SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH EITHER THE LOW OR THE HIGH INTENSITY APPROACH LIGHTS TO RUNWAY 13.

THEY WILL SUPPLEMENT THE LOW INTENSITY OMNI-DIRECTIONAL RED LIGHTS OR THE HIGH INTENSITY UNI-DIRECTIONAL WHITE LIGHTS WHICH HAVE BEEN IN USE FOR MANY YEARS AS VISUAL GUIDANCE FOR PILOTS FLYING THE RIGHT-TURN ONTO RUNWAY 13 IMMEDIATELY AFTER OVERFLYING KOWLOON CITY.

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