Abu Dhabi: New runway lighting system to allow pilots to land, take off under low visibility conditions

A new, cutting edge guidance system at Abu Dhabi International Airport will allow pilots to take off and land their planes under low visibility conditions, like fog.

Said to be the first and most progressive of its kind in the Middle East, the Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control System (A-SMGCS) was revealed by Abu Dhabi Airports.

The airfield guidance and control systems are used to illuminate runways at night or during low visibility conditions. It allows pilots to easily identify the runway and also avoid any obstructions on the airfield.

The new A-SMGCS Level 4 system, designed by ADB SAFEGATE, enables conflict resolution and automatic planning and guidance under all weather conditions. It also improves situational awareness for tower control employees as well as pilots.

The new system will reduce plane taxi timings as well as reduce forced diversions due to bad weather, benefiting passengers and mitigating associated cost for airlines.

It further upscales the airport’s capacity whilst reducing power consumption and ensures minimal maintenance downtime.