by Kris Christenson, MnDOT Aeronautics Navigations Systems Radio Engineer
MnDOT Aeronautics has been sending a representative to the Illuminating Engineering Society Aviation Lighting Committee since 1992. The most recent annual fall technology meeting was held in Pittsburgh. This conference is the industry’s flagship forum for airfield lighting engineering. The symposium is centered on the intersection of legacy infrastructure and the rapid expansion of emerging technologies. For engineering professionals and airport sponsors, the meeting provided great context to the adoption of new technology and future concepts within the National Airspace System’s (NAS) visual aids.
The LED transition to PAR38 lamping
The most significant hardware development for airport operators is FAA approval of PAR38 LED lamping for medium-intensity approach lighting systems (MALSR/MALSF). During the technical showcase, Patriot Taxiway presented its certified LED modules, which have secured a major procurement contract for FAA-maintained systems. Due to the high demand of the FAA contract, these lamps are not available to the public at this time. The FAA will be replacing up to 950 MALSRs with this technology.
The move toward LED is no longer a matter of preference but of necessity. Lamp manufacturers have effectively exited the incandescent PAR38 market. Remaining legacy stock has shown a marked decrease in robustness, leading to short lifespans and increased workload for maintenance crews. For non-federal systems, the industry expects widespread adoption and inclusion in the FAA Airport Lighting Equipment Certification Program by the first quarter of 2026.
Quality management and project synchronization
Beyond hardware, the technical program emphasized the evolution of maintenance philosophy. One notable session was given by Dennis Deering, an airfield electrician at ANC Anchorage, Alaska, on how he applied W. Edwards Deming’s quality management principles to airfield lighting. Dennis advocated for a transition from reactive “burn-out” replacement cycles to data-driven, predictive maintenance models. The findings underscored that successful project outcomes depend on early stakeholder inclusion. By involving design engineers, FAA regulators, and installation contractors from the initial submittal phase, airports can significantly mitigate the risk of technical drift and costly field modifications.
The regulatory landscape: AC modernization
The FAA provided a candid look at the state of advisory circulars, or ACs. Current data indicates a significant backlog in regulatory updates: 55 percent of ACs have not been revised in more than 10 years, and 35 percent have remained stagnant for more than 15 years. The FAA goal to improve interdivisional coordination is expected to yield a more agile regulatory framework. Hopefully, standards keep pace with the rapid lifecycle of LED technology and automated monitoring systems.
Impact on non-federal state aviation systems
For the MnDOT Aeronautics NavSys team, these developments are of high strategic importance. Minnesota currently has 21 airport-owned non-federal MALSR/MALSFs. The current trajectory of incandescent sourcing is unsustainable. Once these PAR38 LED lamps are available to the public, MnDOT Aeronautics will be sure to contact the MALSR/MALSF sponsors.
