STAGE 2 LIGHTING
Helideck Lighting Systems
Stage 2 Circle & H lighting, perimeter LEDs and floodlights, integrated into the deck landing surface. Compulsory on new builds since May 2012 under CAP 437 7th edition Appendix C. Supplied and installed as part of the helideck package.
25 mm
MAX HEIGHT ABOVE DECK
15 MT
LANDING LOAD RATING
CAP 437 7th
APPROVED TO
LED
LIGHT TECHNOLOGY
WHY THIS EXISTS
Visual cues that work before the pilot can see the deck.
For decades, helideck lighting meant a perimeter ring of lights and a few floods to wash the surface. It worked, but it left the pilot guessing about where to put the aircraft on final approach, especially in marginal visibility. Floodlights produced glare. The H and the touchdown circle were paint, not light.
CAP 437 7th edition (2013), Appendix C, mandated a new approach. The H and the landing circle are now lit by continuous LED strips embedded in the deck surface itself. UKCAA's testing showed this gives the pilot a usable visual cue earlier on the approach, more effectively than floodlights, without the glare.
For new-build helidecks, Stage 2 lighting has been compulsory since May 2012. For existing helidecks, UKCAA required at least half of the operated fleet to be retrofitted within three years, and the full fleet under their regulatory purview by 31 March 2018.
REGULATORY DEADLINES
Stage 2 isn't optional. It's the standard
MAY 2012
3 YEARS
31 MAR 2018
NEW & REFIT
COMPULSORY ON NEW BUILDS
UKCAA TARGET FOR HALF OF EXISTING FLEET
UKCAA DEADLINE FOR FULL FLEET
APPLIES TO BOTH
Per UKCAA Safety Regulation Group letter dated 26 February 2013. Operators are advised to prioritise high-priority helidecks for retrofit first.
THE COMPLETE PACKAGE
Three layers of light. One integrated install.
A compliant Stage 2 helideck lighting system has three integrated components. Perimeter lights ring the deck, defining the landing area at distance. Floodlights wash the surface, providing illumination for refuelling, passenger handling and on-deck operations. Stage 2 Circle & H lighting outlines the touchdown markings with continuous LED strips embedded in the deck surface.
All three layers are now LED. The technology curve has run from GLS to compact fluorescent to halogen to xenon discharge to LED, and LED is the endpoint: better light rendition, longer lamp life, lower power consumption, more focused beam, less stray glare on the deck surface.
We supply and install all three layers as part of the helideck package, or retrofit Stage 2 onto existing helidecks.
STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY
Lights that fail the deck fail the landing.
1. Lights are now structural.
Stage 2 LED strips are embedded into the deck landing surface, not bolted to its edge. They become part of the structure the helicopter lands on.
2. 15 MT landing-load rated
Every Stage 2 component must withstand 240 lbs/sq inch helicopter landing loads. Inadequately rated hardware can crack, leak or detach under repeated landings.
3. 25 mm height limit
No component can sit more than 25 mm above the deck surface. Tighter than that in practice, since the deck surface itself is a friction-tested landing zone.
4. Water-tight, deck-tight
A poorly installed Stage 2 system is a water ingress path into the deck structure. Installation procedures developed jointly with the lighting manufacturers preserve structural integrity, durability and water-tightness.
LIGHT TECHNOLOGY
We specify LED. Every time.
Both perimeter lights and floodlights are available in Xenon and LED. We specify LED on every new programme and recommend it on every retrofit.
LED floods, more focused beam, better light rendition and H definition
LED delivers a more focused beam with less stray light, better light rendition (sharper definition of the H marking and deck edge), longer lamp life (less downtime, fewer offshore lift jobs to replace lamps), and lower power consumption (smaller demand on platform electrical capacity).
Xenon floods show more stray light
Xenon remains available for programmes where it's specifically required, but the comparison data — including UKCAA's own — favours LED on every metric that matters in the air.
SPECIFICATIONS
Engineered to the standards your operators audit against.
Design Standards
UKCAA CAP 437 7th edition (2013), Appendix C · ICAO Annex 14 heliport standards · National CAA equivalents (USCG, NMD, etc.) per region
System Components
Stage 2 Circle & H continuous LED strips · Perimeter LED lights · LED floodlights for on-deck operations · Control panel and switching · Power supply and platform integration
Physical & Structural
Maximum height above deck: 25 mm · Landing-load rated: 15 MT (240 lbs/sq inch) · Water-tight to deck integrity standard · Marine-grade housings throughout
Package Includes
Complete lighting system per Stage 2 specification · Installation procedures developed with lighting manufacturers · Site supervision · Commissioning and acceptance testing · Full documentation and as-built drawings
Enquiries
Specifying Stage 2 lighting or planning a retrofit?
Tell us about the deck and operating standard. We'll come back to you within two working days.
