Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) recently completed two massive projects to relight and remark its airfield. Almost all of the work occurred simultaneously, from March 2014 to July 2015. Together, the improvements cost the airport about $34 million – with no outside funding.

The nearly $16 million lighting project set a new precedent: “This is the first airport in the world to have all of its runways and taxiways lit with LED,” notes ATL Aviation Engineer Chris Rogers. “We take pride in being an industry leader.”

During the project, crews replaced all incandescent fixtures on four of the busy airport’s five runways, as well as lights on 11 taxiways and 52 taxiway exits. (LED lighting on Runway 8L-26R was part of a separate reconstruction project.) All told, the effort required approximately 13,000 LED fixtures.

Rogers characterizes the task of changing so many lights on an operational airfield the size of ATL’s as daunting. “Just finding a manufacturer that could produce and deliver the fixtures and a contractor with the workforce able to complete a project this large were major challenges,” he relates.

In retrospect, Rogers attributes the success of the project to great teamwork between the electrical contractor, manufacturers and airport.

Published by Airport Improvement Magazine, October 2015

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ADB SAFEGATE is a leading provider of intelligent solutions that deliver superior airport performance from approach to departure. The company partners with airports and airlines to analyze their current setup and operations, identify bottlenecks, and jointly solve them using a consultative approach that enables airports to improve efficiency, enhance safety and environmental sustainability, and reduce operational costs. Our integrated portfolio includes solutions and services that harmonize airport performance, tackling every aspect of traffic handling and guidance, from approach, runway and taxiway lighting, to tower-based traffic control systems, and intelligent gate and docking automation. ADB Safegate has more than 900 employees in more than 20 countries and operates in more than 175 countries, serving more than 2,000 airports.