Embry-Riddle researchers and their partners from the University of Alaska-Anchorage (UAA), the University of North Dakota, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) are working for the FAA Center of Excellence for General Aviation to improve nighttime safety at small general aviation airports with an innovative, low-cost, and highly portable Remote Airport Light System (RALS) that uses LED lights and retro-reflective markers.

In the RALS setup, typical edge lights are replaced with reflective panels, similar to the technology on road signs, to assist the pilot in safely landing the aircraft. This kind of marker requires no power and is brighter and more visible when lit by an airplane’s landing lights. The system uses low-powered LED lights to mark the corners of the landing strip, and flash in synchronization with Global Positioning System (GPS) time to give pilots improved cues for airfield identification and landing.