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Theses and Dissertations 1. Thesis and Dissertation Collection, all items
2014-03
An analysis and proposed architecture of an
expeditionary airfield lighting system
Cole, Christopher
Monterey, California: Naval Postgraduate School
http://hdl.handle.net/10945/49610
Downloaded from NPS Archive: Calhoun
NAVAL
POSTGRADUATE
SCHOOL
MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA
THESIS
AN ANALYSIS AND PROPOSED ARCHITECTURE OF
AN EXPEDITIONARY AIRFIELD LIGHTING SYSTEM
by
Christopher Cole
March 2014
Thesis Advisor: John Osmundson
Second Reader: Richard Millar
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited
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1. AGENCY USE ONLY (Leave blank) 2. REPORT DATE 3. REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED
March 2014 Master’s Thesis
4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE 5. FUNDING NUMBERS
AN ANALYSIS AND PROPOSED ARCHITECTURE OF AN EXPEDITIONARY
AIRFIELD LIGHTING SYSTEM
6. AUTHOR(S) Christopher Cole
7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION
Naval Postgraduate School REPORT NUMBER
Monterey, CA 93943–5000
9. SPONSORING /MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSORING/MONITORING
N/A AGENCY REPORT NUMBER
11. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES The views expressed in this thesis are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy
or position of the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government. IRB Protocol number ____N/A____.
12a. DISTRIBUTION / AVAILABILITY STATEMENT 12b. DISTRIBUTION CODE
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited A
13. ABSTRACT (maximum 200 words)
The U.S. Marine Corps is the nation’s expeditionary military force. The Marines will often move into forward areas
with little or no support. Through the installation and use of expeditionary airfields, they can provide support to its
Marine Corps and Joint Force aviation operations. An airfield lighting system is a critical part of an airfield. The
Marines’ current airfield lighting system is facing obsolescence issues and needs to be replaced. This thesis analyzes
the factors that influence the architecture of a new airfield lighting system. The Federal Aviation Administration
publishes guidance for commercial airfield lighting that will affect what will be required in a new system. This thesis
examines how the Marines use night vision devices for covert operations and how that will affect the architecture.
Discussions on obsolescence and maintenance issues are provided. Following examination of all of the influences on
architecture, this thesis provides an analysis on the different lighting options and determines which combination of
lights and features offers the best solution for Marine needs. A final recommendation on a new expeditionary airfield
lighting system is made.
14. SUBJECT TERMS expeditionary, airfield lighting, system architecture, expeditionary airfield 15. NUMBER OF
(EAF), airfield lighting analysis PAGES
97
16. PRICE CODE
17. SECURITY 18. SECURITY 19. SECURITY 20. LIMITATION OF
CLASSIFICATION OF CLASSIFICATION OF THIS CLASSIFICATION OF ABSTRACT
REPORT PAGE ABSTRACT
Unclassified Unclassified Unclassified UU
NSN 7540–01–280–5500 Standard Form 298 (Rev. 2–89)
Prescribed by ANSI Std. 239–18
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Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited
AN ANALYSIS AND PROPOSED ARCHITECTURE OF AN EXPEDITIONARY
AIRFIELD LIGHTING SYSTEM
Christopher Cole
Civilian, Department of the Navy
B.S., Rutgers University, 1992
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the degree of
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN SYSTEMS ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT
from the
NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL
March 2014
Author: Christopher Cole
Approved by: Dr. John Osmundson
Thesis Advisor
Dr. Richard Millar
Second Reader
Dr. Clifford Whitcomb
Chair, Department of Systems Engineering
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ABSTRACT
The U.S. Marine Corps is the nation’s expeditionary military force. The Marines will
often move into forward areas with little or no support. Through the installation and use
of expeditionary airfields, they can provide support to its Marine Corps and Joint Force
aviation operations. An airfield lighting system is a critical part of an airfield. The
Marines’ current airfield lighting system is facing obsolescence issues and needs to be
replaced. This thesis analyzes the factors that influence the architecture of a new airfield
lighting system. The Federal Aviation Administration publishes guidance for commercial
airfield lighting that will affect what will be required in a new system. This thesis
examines how the Marines use night vision devices for covert operations and how that
will affect the architecture. Discussions on obsolescence and maintenance issues are
provided. Following examination of all of the influences on architecture, this thesis
provides an analysis on the different lighting options and determines which combination
of lights and features offers the best solution for Marine needs. A final recommendation
on a new expeditionary airfield lighting system is made.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................1
A. BACKGROUND OF MARINE CORPS EXPEDITIONARY
AIRFIELD ........................................................................................................1
B. EAF LIGHTING ..............................................................................................3
C. PURPOSE .........................................................................................................6
D. RESEARCH QUESTIONS .............................................................................6
E. SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY ..................................................................6
II. REQUIREMENTS .......................................................................................................9
A. INTRODUCTION............................................................................................9
B. MARINE CORPS NEEDS ..............................................................................9
1. Man Portable Lighting System ...........................................................9
2. Minimum Operating Strip Lighting System ...................................10
3. Legacy Hardwired Lighting System.................................................11
C. REQUIRED EAF CAPABILITIES .............................................................13
D. SUMMARY ....................................................................................................16
III. UPSTREAM INFLUENCES ON AIRFIELD LIGHTING ...................................19
A. INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................19
B. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE LIGHTING PROGRAMS
INFLUENCES ................................................................................................19
C. CURRENT TECHNOLOGY BASE ............................................................20
D. FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION GUIDANCE .....................23
E. COMPONENTS FOR UNAIDED APPROACHES ...................................25
1. Runway Lights ...................................................................................25
2. Approach Lights.................................................................................29
3. Visual Landing Aid Lights (REIL, PAPI, VASI) ............................33
4. VTOL Lights ......................................................................................35
5. Other Airfield Lighting .....................................................................36
F. COMPONENTS FOR AIDED APPROACH ..............................................36
G. SUMMARY ....................................................................................................39
IV. DOWNSTREAM INFLUENCES ON TECHNOLOGY ........................................41
A. INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................41
B. EXPEDITIONARY AND PORTABILITY .................................................41
C. MAINTENANCE ISSUES ............................................................................42
D. OBSOLESCENCE ISSUES ..........................................................................43
E. SUMMARY ....................................................................................................45
V. FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS .....................................................................................47
A. INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................47
B. FUNCTIONAL DECOMPOSITION ...........................................................47
1. Provide Visual Cues—Runway .........................................................49
2. Provide Visual Cues—VTOL............................................................50
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