UFC 3-535-01
17 November 2005
CHAPTER 7: STANDARDS FOR LIGHTING HELIPADS
7-1
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Helipad lighting defines the helicopter landing pad during operations at night and during
periods of poor visibility. It is used for single helicopter landing pads when authorized as
an operational requirement. For heliport and helicopter landing lanes lighting system
criteria, refer to Chapter 8. All lighted helipads must have perimeter lighting; however,
local conditions and usage may require the addition of:
7-1.1
Landing direction lights, where there is a preferred landing direction. (See
paragraph 7-2.2.)
7-1.2
Approach direction lights, where approach guidance is needed to restrict
the path of approach to the helipad. (See paragraph 7-3.2.)
7-1.3
Helipad Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC) approach lights,
where additional approach guidance is required in IMC.
7-1.4
Pad floodlighting, to assist in ground operations. Helipad floodlights may
be used to supplement the helipad perimeter lights when additional lighting is
considered necessary to assist with ground operations.
7-1.5
A heliport beacon, where a helipad is not part of an airfield and there is an
operational requirement to provide assistance in locating the helipad.
7-2
HELIPAD PERIMETER LIGHTS
7-2.1
Purpose
Perimeter lights provide visual cues to pilots for identifying the safe operational limits of
the helipad during takeoff, landing or hover operations.
7-2.2
Standard Perimeter Light Configuration
Place aviation yellow, omni-directional lights at each corner of the helipad, with three
more lights spaced equally along each side between the corner lights. Lights on
opposite sides of the helipad must be opposite each other. They must be equidistant
and parallel to the extended centerlines of the helipad. They are usually located on the
perimeter of the helipad, but may be placed not more than 2.25 meters (7.5 feet) away
from the edge of the pad. In-pavement fixtures must be used where taxiing of wheeled
helicopters, skid mounted helicopters or other vehicular traffic is required. Elevated light
fixtures should preferably be 0.35 meters (14 inches) maximum. Elevated light fixtures
may be used where only approach and departure procedures are conducted. (See
Figure 7-1.)
7-2.3
Hospital Pad Perimeter Light Configuration
The lighting of a hospital helipad is the same as the standard helipad perimeter lights in
paragraph 7-2.2, except there are additional wing lights located on the geometric
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