Testing to help light the way into Launceston.

Travellers arriving into Launceston will benefit from improved reliability and safer journeys with the implementation of a new High Intensity Approach Lighting system (HIAL).

Designed as visual cues to pilots on approach in low-visibility weather, the lighting will further enhance the safety of all flights into Launceston Airport.

After months of work, final testing of the $700,000 upgrade will start this Friday before the system becomes operational in the coming weeks.

This final phase of testing will involve three test flights over the newly installed lights, one during daytime, dusk and night.

The flights will all be flown on a range of approach profiles to validate the installation and ensure the HIAL system is true and correct when viewed from the air.

The project has involved the replacement of the old incandescent lighting system with more energy efficient LED technology. This change will result in a 60% decrease in energy consumption, and a reduction of two tonnes of CO2 annually.

The LED lights are significantly more reliable than the present system with outages extremely rare allowing the system to operate without interruption.

The HIAL lights are situated on yellow masts arranged in formation prior to the runway and work in conjunction with the planes’ on-board Instrument Landing System (ILS) to help guide pilots on approach.

Launceston Airport Head of Airport operations and assets Marcus Lancaster said the upgrade was essential for the airport as passenger volumes continue to increase.

“As we see more and more people choosing to visit our beautiful part of the world it’s vital that our focus remains on delivering the safest and most reliable services we can,” he said.

“Safety is always our top priority, and the upgraded HIAL system also provides the added benefit of reducing our carbon footprint.”