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FLC Control System
Airports are upgrading their "old style" electro-mechanical L-821 panels to improve airfield safety and efficiency. Flight Light is now offering FLC, a highly reliable PLC based control system that provides ATCT with enhanced control of airfield lighting equipment. The system features an industrial quality touch screen interface that indicates real-time airfield lighting status and allows users to program automatic and pilot controlled lighting options. The FLC control system is ideal for small and medium sized airports when field monitoring is not a requirement.
The touch screen interface for FLC provides an air traffic controller in the tower with a user-friendly airfield mimic for selecting services. Once selected, commands are sent via an RS-485 link to the PLC in the vault - the "control engine" of the system. The PLC then controls the constant current regulators (CCRs) and ancillary devices such as wind cones and beacons.
Touch Screen Interface
In addition to a graphical representation of the airfield, the interface includes screen "buttons" for selecting services. Updates to reflect airfield changes are easily made to the interface. An optional touch screen interface may be installed directly in the lighting vault to provide maintenance personnel with local equipment control and status information.
The brilliancy of a CCR can be altered by selecting a screen button that opens a "pop-up" window where brilliancy can be set (e.g., Runway: Off, Step 1-5; Taxiway: Off, 10, 30, 100). Ancillary equipment such as wind cone beacons can be activated by selecting screen icons for those services.
PLC
A highly reliable PLC is used by the control system for its base level of control automation. It is built for high availability and long life in industrial environments. The PLC's modular construction allows for rapid changeover in the unlikely event of a failure. If the PLC fails, a hard-wired relay selects a fixed pattern of lights at a predefined level of illumination on particular circuits (e.g., TDZ Step 3).
Features
• Covers all functions specified by an L-821 panel, with no moving parts (FAA AC 150/5345-3E).
• ETL Certified L-890 (FAA AC 150/5345-56A)
• Industrial quality touch screen interface provides real-time visual status of airfield lighting.
• Interface is easily updated to reflect airfield changes.
• Programmable automatic and pilot controlled lighting options.
• Proven, off-the-shelf components ensures reasonable availability.
• Highly reliable industrial PLC.
• Industry standard RS-485 communications via fiber optic network.
• Utilizes distributed control concept to minimize traffic and enhance reliability on communication bus.
• Modular in design, system easily expanded with L-854 radio controllers, stop bar control system, existing control equipment, monitoring, and alarms for ATCT.
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Touch screen CCR buttons display the
level of brilliancy selected.
(Runway: Off, Step 1-5), (Taxiway: Off, 10, 30, 100)
Touch screen buttons for the wind cone beacon,
and generator indicate whether the service is on or off. |
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Typical vault cabinet with
optional touch screen. |
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