Installation of Runway End Identifier Light Baffles at the Medina, Ohio, Municipal Airport

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of Aviation Research, Airport Technology Research and Development Branch, AAR-410, conducted this project at the request of the Great Lakes Region Airway Facilities Division, AGL-400. The task was to obtain and install light baffles for the Runway End Identifier Lights (REIL) at the approach end to runway 27 at the Medina Municipal Airport in Medina, Ohio. This request for assistance was initiated to remediate a situation for which the local township had requested congressional assistance.

AAR-410 personnel were sent to the site to conduct a survey of the installation, and as a result, developed “deflector panels” to prevent the light from the REIL units from striking the residence. This installation was unique in that it only required the light to be blocked from a specific spot on the approach zone, not below the entire approach. Typically, baffles would be used for this type of problem. In this case, however, deflector panels were used to block the light from the residence without affecting the usable light required for approaching aircraft. This technical note, with supporting photographs, describes the steps taken in assessing the situation, the fabrication, and final installation of the deflector panels.