Garver creativity leads to state's first LED HIRL system

When the Blytheville-Gosnell Regional Airport Authority recognized a need for an updated runway lighting system at the Arkansas International Airport, Garver’s expert Aviation Team provided complete design services for a new energy efficient system.

And when funding issues arose, Garver’s team stepped up again, working with the Federal Aviation Administration and the Arkansas Department of Aeronautics for a solution. The final plan involved Garver’s expert electrical engineering staff installing and aligning the fixtures, which saved the airport money while making it the first in the state to be equipped with a LED high-intensity runway lighting system.

The work was recently honored by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Arkansas with an Engineering Excellence Award in the Building/Technology Systems category.

“Our job is to find the finish line of every project, no matter what it takes to get there,” said Aviation Electrical Leader Eric Farmer. “No project is one-size fits all, so we were happy to provide help across all stages of the project, from design, to funding assistance, to installation.”

Garver provided complete design and construction support engineering services for the new LED HIRL fixtures, which replaced the airport’s 30-year-old fixtures. The new fixtures have an average life of 56,000 hours, with an anticipated life of more than 100,000 hours under typical operating conditions, compared to the incandescent fixtures that require replacement after 1,000 hours. 

Once operated as Eaker Air Force Base, Garver first helped it transition to civilian ownership in the 1990s, which included a narrowed runway. The old incandescent lamps and transformers remained in service at the airport but had become a maintenance and energy burden for the airport. The new lights significantly reduce energy consumption by over 70 percent, and also provide less of a burden for the airport operators with much longer intervals between maintenance.

Garver is celebrating its centennial in 2019. To learn more, visit our centennial celebration page.