Frangibility Tests of Existing Approach Lamps and Holders

Abstract

One of the hazards encountered when flying into a major airport today is the possibility of accidentally undershooting the threshold of the runway and impacting into present-day approach lighting systems located there. Tests were conducted on approach lamps and holders to determine to what extent current designs are frangible. A catapult accelerated the fuselages of two widely used types of small aircraft to collision with PAR-38 and PAR-56 lamps and associated holders. 53 runs at different speeds and with different exposed lamp face orientations were made. Results show that a safety redesign of the lamps might reduce penetration probability and result in a lamp that will not penetrate windshields at less than approach landing speeds.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 1975
Accession Number
ADA013995

Entities

People

  • Bret B. Castle

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accelerometers
  • Acrylic Resins
  • Aircrafts
  • Approach Lights
  • Aviation Accidents
  • Catapults
  • Field Tests
  • Frangible
  • Fuselages
  • General Aviation Aircraft
  • Impact Tests
  • Photographs
  • Resins
  • Test Equipment
  • Test Methods
  • Test Sets
  • Windshields

Readers

  • Computational Linguistics
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Explosive Engineering.