Spangdahlem’s Bright Return After Power Outage

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• Case Study | ENGLISH

Background

Located in the scenic landscapes of Germany, Spangdahlem Air Base has adapted to evolving aviation needs while maintaining its commitment to excellence. The base actively engages with the local community and serves as the operational hub for the 52nd Fighter Wing to maintain, deploy, and employ F-16 Fighting Falcons and various aircraft.

The decision to implement a modern expeditionary airfield lighting system is a continuation of Spangdahlem’s commitment to excellence in aviation.

Challenge

In November 2023, the existing airfield ground lighting system experienced a failure during a major weather event. Darkness fell on the air field. Crucial operations were at a standstill and time to restore visibility to ground and air traffic was limited.

With flying operations conducted daily, the absence of functional airfield lighting is more than an inconvenience. It poses a severe safety risk, dramatically escalating the probabilities of accidents and collisions. The urgency to restore visibility is not just about operational efficiency—it’s a matter of ensuring the safety and well-being of personnel, aircraft, and the overall mission.

Solution

Spangdahlem Air Base had access to Avlite’s EALS-C Expeditionary Airfield Lighting System. Without hesitation, the 52nd Civil Engineering Squadron electrical systems specialists began the task of efficiently deploying Avlite’s EALS-C expeditionary lighting to restore mission-ready capability and restore normal operations.

The unique trailer capabilities ensured all crucial elements for deploying a 10,000 ft. runway, including approach, threshold, runway, and taxiway LED lighting, were easily accessible and well-organized, minimizing the need for extra resources or multiple trips.

Outcome

Utilizing a team of 20 Airmen, the EALS-C system was promptly deployed on the 10,000 ft. runway ensuring a swift and efficient return to operational status. The EALS-C not only met the challenge but excelled, proving its worth as a dependable and essential component of Spangdahlem Air Base’s airfield infrastructure.

The installation at Spangdahlem Air Base represented the inaugural deployment of the EALS-C on a permanent U.S. Air Force base for use in normal operations. What sets the EALS-C apart is not just its reliability, but a sophisticated design tailored to meet the demands of challenging situations. The system’s adaptability to various conditions, including inclement weather, demonstrates why this solution is globally trusted by Department of Defense (DOD) organizations around the world.

In an unforeseen situation out of the theatre, Avlite’s expeditionary airfield lighting solution met the demands of operational readiness. The squadron were prepared for an outage and were able to reduce downtime and safety risk.

The success story at Spangdahlem Air Base underlines not just a technological upgrade but a transformative leap in airfield lighting. EALS-C, with its focus on safety, efficiency, and rapid deployment, sets a new standard for contingency airfields.

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