Aircraft Warning Lights - LED Obstacle Lights, Obstruction Lights

Company CEL Aviation
Date 10.11.2010

CEL Aviation has produced the first prototype Infrared (IR) aircraft warning lights to be approved by the MoD for lighting onshore wind turbines.
 
RenewableUK has been involved in discussions with the MoD for some time with regard to environmentally friendly lighting solutions for turbines situated within Low Flying and Tactical training Airspace.

Although there is currently no statutory obligation to light turbines under 150m, the MoD regularly undertakes low flying exercises down to 60m in areas of the UK that are prime for wind farm development.

CEL’s IR lights were put through their paces by the MoD’s Low Flying Operations Squadron in a series of ground and flight-based trials. Tested against a selection of military Night Vision Goggles (NVGs), the IR lights performed to a high level, resulting in safe and consistent visual detection ranges.
 
As a result, the MoD approved the CEL Aviation CEL-IR850-024-CST series lights as meeting the military criteria for vertical obstruction lighting on structures below 500ft.
 
And their green credentials are impressive too. Because IR is invisible to the naked eye, there is minimal environmental impact on local surroundings.

This is good news for the onshore wind industry, as night-time lighting and its consequential visual impact, albeit small, is often a concern given that turbines tend to be located in rural areas with limited light pollution.

Currently, the CEL IR light is the only vertical obstruction lighting product to have received full MoD clearance.
 
To find out more, visit http://www.contarnex.com/

Contact

Contarnex Europe Ltd
252 Martin Way Morden
Surrey
United Kingdom
SM4 4AW
  • +44 20 8540 1034