How a helipad is lit
Two nested areas, each edged with its own lights, plus touchdown marking, floodlighting, a lit wind indicator and an identification beacon.
A helipad lighting layout defines two nested areas for the pilot. The larger is the final approach and take-off area (FATO), edged with white perimeter lights (ICAO; the FAA uses green). Inside it is the touchdown and lift-off area (TLOF), which has its own ring of green perimeter lights and touchdown positioning marking.
Around the pad, floodlights light the surface and the helicopter without dazzling the pilot, a lit wind direction indicator shows the wind, and a flashing identification beacon helps the pilot find the heliport from a distance. Approach lights are added where the operations need them. The exact lights, colours, patterns and intensities depend on the heliport type and the regulator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1What is a helipad lighting layout?
The arrangement of lights that define and illuminate a heliport at night or in poor visibility: lights on the edge of the final approach and take-off area (FATO), lights on the edge of the touchdown and lift-off area (TLOF), touchdown positioning marking, floodlighting, a lit wind direction indicator and a heliport identification beacon.
Q2What is the difference between the FATO and the TLOF?
The FATO is the larger area over which the final approach and take-off are completed. The TLOF is the load-bearing area inside it where the helicopter touches down and lifts off. Each has its own perimeter lights, so the pilot can see both. At a surface-level heliport ICAO Annex 14 Volume II uses white for the FATO perimeter (green is also permitted) and green for the TLOF perimeter, so the two normally read differently; FAA practice uses green for both.
Q3What does the heliport identification beacon do?
It is a flashing light that helps a pilot find the heliport from a distance at night, where the heliport is hard to pick out from surrounding lights. Whether one is provided depends on the heliport and the regulator.
Q4Are all helipads lit the same way?
No. The layout depends on the type of heliport, such as ground-level, elevated or helideck, on the operations it supports and on the regulator. Surface-level and elevated heliports also treat obstacles and light height differently.
Q5Why are perimeter lights often low or flush?
Rotor downwash and the need to keep the area clear of obstacles limit how high a light can stand. Lights are kept low, or flush with the surface where the design requires it, and are built to take the loads and downwash of helicopter operations.
Q6Which standards apply to heliport lighting?
ICAO Annex 14 Volume II covers heliports, and national regulators publish their own requirements. The applicable standard and the project specification decide the exact lights, colours, patterns and intensities.
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