The History of Loring International Airport

In 1946, the Strategic Air Command (SAC) developed a plan for a global air force that led to the establishment of Limestone Air Force Base on 14,300 acres at the northeastern tip of the United States. The location was chosen for its proximity to Europe at the height of the Cold War, making it one of the biggest SAC bases in the country.

The base, later renamed Loring Air Force Base, became active in 1953 and housed state-of-the-art bombers and support aircraft, including the 42^nd Bombardment Wing and 42^nd Air Refueling Squadron. The base featured one 10,000 ft north-south runway, a parallel taxiway, a parking apron, a base operations building, a control tower, a power plant, a 250-person barracks, a water supply system, a railroad spurt to the base, and the Arch Hangar. A second runway was added to Taxiway J in 1981, making Loring one of three SAC bases with two runways.

After 40 years in service, Loring was identified for closure and officially deactivated on September 30, 1994. Today, it stands as Loring Commerce Center, redeveloped by the Loring Development Authority as an industrial and aviation park housing 20 businesses. Among those businesses is Loring International Airport, serving the East Coast and Canadian markets.

Avlite Chooses Loring International Airport for Quality Testing

In early 2022, Avlite announced their contract with the German Air Force to supply a custom 10,000 ft. runway AV-HMALS® solution. The system, utilizing Avlite’s suite of solar and wired products, was meticulously configured to meet the exact specifications as required by the German Air Force.

After a year of engineering this comprehensive system, which included a solar and wired Constant Current Regulator (CCR) configuration, Avlite needed to conduct quality testing on the entire system installation before delivery.

The tailored system featured:

• Short-Simplified Approach System
• Runway and Taxiway Lighting
• Precision Approach Path Indicators
• Portable Signage
• Complete Control and Monitoring with Backup Control

To perform this detailed quality testing over an extended amount of time, Avlite required a secure location to deploy an entire 10,000 ft runway system, including taxiway and approach lighting. They chose Loring International Airport in Limestone, Maine, which offered the ideal facilities, including:

• A 10,000 ft. runway
• 2,000 ft. approach on each end of the runway
• A substantial taxiway
• Hangars
• Office spaces

Loring International Airport provided the necessary infrastructure to deploy and test the full runway system. Additionally, its location, just a 6.5-hour drive from Avlite’s manufacturing facility in Tilton, New Hampshire, allowed for efficient rotation of the teams and equipment transport.

A Global Team Unites in Maine

Planning for Avlite’s extensive testing operation at Loring International Airport began weeks in advance with global team meetings to determine the necessary personnel and equipment. Team members from Australia and New Hampshire operated on a rotating schedule to conduct early system tests at the Franklin, Tennessee facility.

Starting July 2023, Avlite shipped the eight-trailer system and the required equipment to sustain testing operations to Loring International Airport. The first wave of the global team, comprising engineering and service personnel from the New Hampshire, Tennessee, and Australian offices, arrived to unpack and organize for the work ahead. They positioned lighting equipment and trailers in the hangar, set up meeting and work areas as well as arranged work benches and rework stations in the office building.

All lights were deployed along the runway, taxiway, and approaches with cables laid out between lighting equipment and power distribution from the CCR trailers. Towers were erected for radio control, while other equipment still undergoing testing was set up in the hangar for easy access.

The second wave of team members, a larger and more diverse group from the Quality, Facilities, and Project Management departments, arrived to assist with runway assembly, testing, and eventually, shipments.

Integration work to bring together all products into on functioning system operated by a newly developed ALCMS radio system continued for the next couple of months with team members rotating in from the three worldwide teams.

Avlite’s Dedication to Expeditionary Innovation

The successful completion of Avlite’s testing at Loring International Airport showcases the company’s unwavering commitment to innovation and quality. The global team’s collaboration demonstrated their expertise and adaptability, crucial for developing and perfecting advanced aviation solutions. This project highlighted Avlite’s pioneering work in expeditionary lighting, showcasing the robustness and reliability of their products under rigorous conditions.

The integration of global resources and cutting-edge technology not only met the high standards required by the German Air Force but also set a benchmark for future projects. This endeavor stands as a testament to Avlite’s innovative spirit and dedication to delivering top-tier aviation solutions on a global scale.

Flexible and Efficient Solution for Military Operations Worldwide

AV-HMALS® stands at the forefront of agile military airfield lighting solutions, offering unmatched flexibility and efficiency for military operations across the globe. Our custom systems empower customers to tailor solutions precisely to their exact specifications, ensuring optimal functionality.

By prioritizing the understanding of power requirements and backup solutions, we can design and develop turn-key expeditionary airfield lighting systems to facilitate rapid deployment, ease of use, and minimize downtime.

Globally trusted with variable configurations used worldwide, Avlite’s AV-HMALS® Hybrid and EALS-C configurations exemplify reliability and innovation in military lighting technology and are backed by the US Air Force, Army, and National Guard.

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