Glamox, a global leader in lighting, has completed the delivery of the advanced helicopter landing marking system (HVLAS) to HMS Forth, one of the Batch 2 offshore patrol vessels of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom. This is the third Batch 2 vessel to be equipped with this system, significantly enhancing its capabilities for helicopter landings in adverse weather conditions and at night.
Installation and Testing Details
The Glamox team completed the installation of this system in eight weeks. Following the installation, several weeks of at-sea acceptance testing will be conducted, which will include helicopter landings and approaches during both day and night. Toby Dupre, CEO of du Pré Marine, noted that "this project took nearly 14 months from the initial discussion stage to installation on three vessels. This success would not have been possible without the support of Glamox and the proactive and positive approach of the Royal Navy's ship support team."
Features of the HVLAS System
The HVLAS system is a complete LED lighting system for the flight deck that provides pilots with visual cues and information during approach and landing. This system includes a stabilized horizon bar that indicates the horizon position regardless of the vessel's roll and pitch. Additionally, a landing path indicator helps pilots judge approach angles using a tri-color light beam and determines whether the helicopter is too high or too low. The lighting along the deck edge and focused LED beam lines also provide precise cues for pilots operating in low visibility conditions or using night vision goggles. Furthermore, Glamox has supplied military-grade navigation lights for two other vessels as well.
This system not only helps improve safety during helicopter landings but also enhances the operational capabilities of the vessels in challenging weather conditions, allowing the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom to utilize its resources more effectively. As a result, this initiative could have a significant impact on the Navy's ability to conduct various operations in challenging weather conditions.
