Beijing DaXing International Airport relies on full-scale, round-the-clock Follow-the-Greens (FTG) guidance since it opened in October 2019. Aircraft are steered safely via the shortest, most efficient route, even when extreme weather triggers CAT III operations. ADB SAFEGATE’s RELIANCE LED intelligent lighting and control systems in the airfield, and Safedock Advanced Visual Docking Guidance systems (A-VDGS) at the gate, power this mega airport which is envisioned to become one of the busiest airports globally.
“Beijing DaXing International Airport is designed for 72 million passengers currently, and could serve up to 100 million passengers annually in the long run. At this level, Follow-the-Greens is crucial to supporting safer and more efficient operations,” said ZhiHui Wu, Deputy General Construction Commander, Beijing DaXing International Airport. “The feedback from the pilots and ATC controllers is very positive, FTG makes their life easier with clear and rapid guidance.”
ADB SAFEGATE has delivered 12,000 LED intelligent lights that allow individual monitoring of each light, and 500 units of its latest-generation constant current regulators (CCR). Its RELIANCE Airfield Lighting Control and Monitoring System (ALCMS), and Individual Lighting Control and Monitoring System (ILCMS), are integrated with the airport’s Level IV Advanced Surface Movement and Guidance Control System (A-SMGCS). The company has also set up 79 Safedock Advanced Visual Docking Guidance Systems (A-VDGS) to support precise automated aircraft parking in all weather conditions.
“This is one of China’s, and perhaps the world’s, biggest, most ambitious airport projects. We’ve implemented some of the most advanced technologies enabled by our airfield, gate and control systems portfolios, that will help Beijing DaXing International Airport realize its vision of being a world-class aviation hub,” said Henrik Linderberth, Chief Customer Officer, ADB SAFEGATE.
To support FTG throughout, every aircraft is guided by green lights which are controlled via the ALCMS and ILCMS. For example, during take-off, once the air traffic controller defines an aircraft’s take-off route, these systems receive instructions from the A-SMGCS, and relay them to the lighting segments. Pilots follow a clear route illuminated by the green lights. As an aircraft reaches the red stop bar lights, the A-SMGCS checks for conflicts and automatically turns them off to allow the aircraft to proceed to the runway, smoothly and safely.
