Citation

Finch DM. Highw. Res. Board bull. 1959; 226: 16-29.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1959, National Research Council (U.S.A.), Highway Research Board)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Developments in lighting for airports are discussed. The principle of contour perception applied to the runway of an airport is shown by figures. The turnoff for an exit taxiway is shown from a long distance away as well as from a closer position. Direct light units were developed to have a high contrast with background. The lighting unit developed is a small flat circular disk-shaped fixture that uses either a three-, four- or fifteen-watt twelve-volt automotive type lightbulb. Low operating voltage was selected because of the availability of the low wattage bulb in a tubular shape. The best conditions for night driving were obtained by drawing full lines of high contrast along the edges and along the center line of the airport runway and marking the turnoff point for exit taxiways with a centerline in the taxiway which departs from the runway centerline at the point-of- turn and proceeds through definite break in the edge lighting at the entrance to the turnoff. Light spacings were experimented with to obtain the most satisfactory.

CONCLUSIONS developed for the airport problem could be applied with little modification to modern highways.