KIA to get India's first and only LED-powered runway

Scheduled for launch in late 2019, the second runway of the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) here will be fitted with LED airfield lighting, the country's first such facility. The SafeLED AGL is said to be low on maintenance and power consumption.

LED lighting will be critical as KIA gears up to support 55 Air Traffic Movements (ATMs) per hour on its second runway. “Ensuring safe and efficient operations will remain paramount. There is no rom for error,” said Tom Shimmin, Chief Project Officer, Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), KIA's operator.

ADB Safegate will provide its SafeLED lights, constant current regulators (CCRs) for power management, cables, lighting and control systems. The company’s Safedock T1 and T2 variants of A-VDGS will be integrated with the airport’s existing apron management system for improved performance at the gate, a BIAL release said.

The construction of the second runway was awarded to M/S L&T, as the main contractor, on an Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) basis. ADB Safegate, the release said, is working with its local partner and main contractor to complete the project in four phases with an expected timeline of about two and a half years.

The new runway will have an advanced CAT-III (B) instrument landing system that can cater to all types of aircraft including Airbus A380 and Boeing 747-8. The facility is expected to be operational from October 2019.

ADB Safegate currently serves about 2,500 airports globally, including Beijing, Dubai, Heathrow, Charles De Gaulle, Frankfurt, New Delhi and Changi.