Visual Aids For Secondary Airports

A new type lighting and marking system for use at small general aviation type airports under VFR weather conditions was installed at the municipal airport, Ocean City, New Jersey, for evaluation.  The system consisted of fluorescent runway edge and approach lighting systems; an incandescent sequenced flashing light system; a Simplified Abbreviated Visual Approach Slope (SAVASI) system; painted aiming-point runway markings; retroreflective centerline and threshold markers.  All of these visual aids were evaluated individually, and in addition the fluorescent runway edge lighting fixtures were evaluated in comparison with standard incandescent edge lighting units.  it was determined that all of the above mentioned visual systems provided satisfactory guidance under VFR conditions and that the fluorescent type of runway edge light fixture can provide excellent VFR lighting with fewer maintenance problems and lower operating costs than the present standard medium-intensity runway edge light fixture.

FAA-RD-70-59
Author: Thomas Paprocki