HIAL is the first UK airport operator to invest in the latest emergency runway lighting system. The company has invested more than £100,000 in the CALKIT (Civil Airfield Lighting Kit) portable lighting system manufactured and supplied by Metalite Aviation Lighting. The new product has been purchased for three of the company's airports, at Stornoway, Tiree and Islay.
The CALKIT system provides airports with a backup system in the event of main airfield lighting failing - either completely replacing the lighting or supplementing the main lighting system in the event of partial failure. The product is designed to operate independently of mains power and can be rapidly deployed by airport ground staff.The latest version of CALKIT is already in use at airports in the USA and mainland Europe but Highlands and Islands Airports is the first airport operator in the UK to invest in the product.
CALKIT was developed from a military system designed under a research and development programme initiated by the UK Ministry of Defence. The result is a cost-effective, portable form of emergency lighting for airport and airfield applications. Paul Clarkson, operational services manager at Highlands and Islands Airports said: "The investment in the CALKIT system for three of our airports is part of our ongoing commitment to meeting regulatory and safety requirements across our network. Air transport is vital to remoter communities and the systems and processes we operate ensure that our airports are fit for purpose."
Bob Macleod, managing director of Highlands and Islands Airports added: "In addition to schedule passenger and charter flights, our airports also facilitate air ambulance and search and rescue flights. In the past year the company handled around 5,000 air ambulance and search and rescue flights, this is equivalent to almost 14 flights a day.
"In the event of serious power failure at our facilities systems such as the new CALKIT lighting form part of our contingency plans to ensure that airports continue to function," said Mr Macleod.
Wayne Rolfe, sales and marketing manager at Metalite Aviation Lighting said: "Highlands and Islands Airports took delivery of their first CALKIT in 1996. Their decision to buy three of the new systems seven years later is great news for Metalite. We feel certain that they’ll find the latest version easier to use, it will also give them longer hours of deployment and faster recharge times."
ENDS
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