42 x AV70 Solar Aviation Lights and Avlite’s airfield marker cones were chosen to replace the old battery lanterns used on the Wannan airstrip.

Wannan Aboriginal Community is located 18km from the Grand Central Highway. The outback highway bisects the Ngaanyatjarra lands providing access to the two major regional centres of Alice Springs, 1000km NE of Wannan, and Kalgoorlie, 900km SW of Wannan. The grand central highway is unsealed and subject to wet weather closure. Permits are required to enter Wannan and the other 10 communities that comprise the Ngaanyatjarra Lands.

Wannan has an unsealed airstrip that services the community with a weekly mail run and had battery operated lights for night time RFD evacuations. A need was identified to have permanent airstrip lights at Wannan due to the increase of night evacuations.

The old airstrip lighting was the battery lanterns which had to be twisted to turn on or off. These lanterns were in a dilapidated state with most of the 24 available held together with duct tape to make them work. Putting out these lanterns by hand was a tiresome job and it usually depended on luck whether they would work or not, or had enough battery charge to be on for longer than the required 4 hours. It took, in total, 3 people and 5 hours to do a night time evacuation, a huge drain on resources and manpower.

An internet search found Avlite had the perfect solution for the lighting situation. Avlite’s AV70 was chosen because it is a complete, solar, rechargeable unit with remote control access. After initial talks with an Avlite representative, a quote was given for 42 lights and cones to upgrade the airstrip.

Grants were applied for to RADS (Remote Aerodrome Development scheme) and RASP (Remote Aerodrome Safety Program), and letters of support were given from RFDs (Royal Flying Doctor Service) and various other airstrip users.  These grants were successful and the order was placed with Avlite.

The pallet of lights arrived in the community amid great excitement and were unpacked with due care at the office. The CDEP work crew started to assemble the lights according to instructions and put them in a trailer for charging in the sun. All lights were tested before placing at the airstrip and anchored down with long bolts for security. Cones were evenly spaced between the lights and again, anchored down for security.

A BBQ was organised for the workers and a celebration for the “Grand Light Up” was planned that evening. The whole community cheered as lights were flicked on. As the lights danced through various test flash patterns, joy & celebration was had by all. The lights have already been used on 4 occasions reducing the staff time to 1 person and only 20mins before RDF plane is due.

‘ Our thanks and gratitude to RADS & RASP funding and Sharon Bedson from Avlite, without her help and determination to overcome the remote logistical challenges, none of this would be possible.’
                                                    - Patricia Granger, CDA, Wannan Community
  

Thank you to Patricia Granger for supplying the information and photos included in this article.

For further information please contact Avlite today - email info@avlite.com or phone
+61 (0)3 5977 6128.