Design and development of automation system for precision approach path indicator (PAPI) in airfield lighting / Shah Rizal Mohd Shaher
2018
Airfield Grounding lighting (AGL) is the aid for the pilot to take off and land, it
consists of the structure of lights, power supply, mounting systems and control from
the air traffic control tower to substation and to lights. AGL are divided into three
main parts, which are power supply, lighting and control system. In this project, we
focused only on the lighting part that gives an aid to the pilot for safe landing by
using a 3-degree slope of runway. It is called Precision Approach Path Indicator
(PAPI) which is the most important light in airfield lighting. PAPI is a valuable
visual aid that can provide precision direction for pilots when making a landing.
Normally PAPI is a single bar with four units located on the left side of a runway for
touch-down aiming point, whilst in some airports PAPI are installed in 2 bars on left
and right side. To maintain operational conditions and precision of the system, PAPI
must be calibrated once a year and maintenance must be carried out periodically. The
calibration is done by using special tools and manually adjust the angle of the PAPI as
instructed by the flight calibration team provided by the department of civil aviation
authority. While carrying out PAPI calibration, the access to the runway will be
blocked and all aircraft will be rescheduled. The inspection on PAPI is made by
checking each of PAPI angle as specified in ICAO annex 14 which are 2.50°, 2.83°,
3.17°and 3.50°. This is very time consuming as the calibration needs to be done
manually and extra man power is needed to communicate with aircraft calibration.
Also, if mis-align then consume time to re align. The more time taken to conduct this
exercise the more cost will be incurred to pay to the department of civil aviation
authority. In this project, an automated PAPI calibration system is designed by using
PAPI system and Leadscrew Stepper Motor on AutoCAD SOLIDWORKS. Then,
design ladder Diagram has been constructed to simulate operation of stepper motor
combined with PAPI system for automatic movement. Design model of Leadscrew stepper motor is integrated on PAPI system and helped to move the PAPI up and down
(vertically) to adjust elevation angle of PAPI system. This design will allow automatic
adjustment of the system and subsequently it would reduce the cost of maintenance on
extra man power, special tools, safety and the most important factor is less time
consuming.
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