tronics market for cell phones, flat-panel
televisions and other consumer products,
the major focus within aerospace is the
initial introduction of the technology into
all areas formerly dominated by incandescent lighting.
For example, Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner
is the first commercial aircraft to make
extensive use of LEDs throughout the
flight deck and cabin. The availability of
LED lighting is freeing designers from
the shackles of having to design interiors
around long, skinny incandescent tubes
to the point where they can now design
round, curved and complex fixtures.
LEDs also have become particularly popular with designers of cockpit
systems. “What we’re finding is that
the lighting in illuminated switches are
becoming part of the overall cockpit
strategy,” said Steven Edwards, product
development manager for Aerospace
Optics, based in Fort Worth, Texas, producer of the Vivisun line of products.
“OEMs are looking at LEDs as a
way to increase functionality in the same
space, while decreasing weight by reducing wiring, which also improves reliability,” he said.
Aerospace Optics in 2009 introduced
a line of LED products called the Logic
Series that replace the electromechanical
holding coil in traditional incandescents
— which Edwards called “notoriously
unreliable” — with an electronic holding
coil. Besides longer life, such a configuration permits three-way switching, a function commonly found in homes where a
single light can be controlled from two
different switches, say, at the top and bottom of the stairs. In aviation, this allows a
pilot to turn on a light on the left side of
the cockpit and the co-pilot to turn it off
from the right side. Another advantage
for aviation is that a light that’s left on
when the aircraft powers down doesn’t
come back on when the aircraft goes into
power-on mode.
“Rather than modifying a piece of
electronics to do that, the switch itself can
do it,” said Edwards, adding that the same
goes for blinking. “There isn’t a switch
that blinks by itself. With LEDs you don’t
need a computer to turn it on and off.”
the visual performance of their incan-
descent predecessors. That means that
LEDs must do more in smaller packages
without increasing size, weight and power
requirements.
Some Challenges
The aerospace lighting industry does face
a number of challenges in the wholesale
transition from incandescent lighting to
LED lighting. For example, LEDs require specialized power conditioning and
electronic circuitry in order to duplicate
Following are some recent developments announced by manufacturers of aircraft
cabin, cockpit and exterior lighting systems.
Courtesy Talon Aerospace Courtesy STG Aerospace
➤ Talon Aerospace, of Helena, Ala., is
working to secure new certifications for
its LED anti-collision aircraft lights, the
company said.
The company received FAA certification of its 400 candela Anti-Collision
Light for large aircraft in 2008. Talon
said it will add additional aircraft to the
Approved Model List for the system
as well as for its Wing/Tail Strobe and
Navigation/Position lights this year. The
Anti-Collision light can be mounted on
multiple aircraft with simple mounting
adaptors, requiring no major modification to the aircraft.
Talon Aerospace forward navigation
and strobe lights on an Airbus A320
Additionally, the company expected to receive FAA certification of its Engine/
Wing Scan Lights, Turn/Taxi Lights, Logo Lights and Landing Lights over the
next 18 months.
➤ Emteq, based in New Berlin, Wis., announced in February that it will develop
and supply exterior lighting provisions for the MD900, MD500 and MD600
series helicopter production lines from MD Helicopters. The lighting systems will
include Dual Mode Anti-Collision Lights, Position Lights and Tail Lights.
Emteq's exterior lighting, branded FC Exterior Lighting, uses LED technology
and integrated optics for lightweight, easily customized packaging and maximum
electrical performance.
➤ STG Aerospace of Swaffham, U.K., in December signed a contract with Swedish airline Malmo
Aviation to supply its Wireless Emergency Primary
Power System for the airline's AVRO RJ 100s.
WEPPS integrates wireless monitoring and
diagnostic capability. The system uses new operating protocols and TSO-approved “fit-for-life,”
non-rechargeable battery modules to replace conventional NiCad battery/charger packs.
Also in December, the company said WEPPS
was granted a Validation of Supplemental Type
Certificate by the Civil Aviation Administration of
China for use on Boeing 737-300s, -400s and -500s.
STG Aerospace WEPPS
➤ Firan Technology Group (FTG), based in Toronto, in October renewed a 3-year
Human Machine Interface (HMI) Enterprise Sourcing Agreement with Rockwell
Collins. The three-year HMI contract, estimated at about $6.7 million, will cover
cockpit controls, illuminated panels, bezels and keyboards. FTG said it will manufacture the products at its FTG Aerospace Division in Toronto.
➤ Heads Up Technologies, of Carrollton, Texas, in October said it developed and
qualified the LED cabin lighting system for the Beechcraft King Air 350i.
The system consists of wash lighting, reading lights, table lights, floor lighting,
entry lights, lavatory lights and accent lighting as well as proprietary controllers to
interface all the lights to the Rockwell Collins Venue cabin management system.
Heads Up Technologies also provided the cockpit reading lights.
