Benbecula lights the way at runway

Benbecula airport has become the first civil airport in Scotland to have its runway fully-lit by LED ground lighting.
The new lights at the airport. Picture by Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL).The new lights at the airport. Picture by Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL).
The new lights at the airport. Picture by Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL).

The £150,000 improved lighting system provides greater illumination for incoming and outgoing aircraft, while simultaneously reducing the airport’s energy consumption and meeting parent firm Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) energy use aspirations.

Benbecula Airport, one of the most westerly airports in the UK, is also the first airport in the HIAL network to have its runway entirely fitted out with the energy-efficient lights. To date, the newest generation of LED lighting is only in service at a handful of large airports in England, including Manchester and London Heathrow airports.

Benbecula Airport’s exposure to severe wind and weather meant that many of the original Halogen/Tungsten fittings were prone to damage and were at greater risk of periodic outages. The upgraded lights are less susceptible to corrosion from the salty sea air and sand.