Application Note – Air Traffic Control Tower

The cab section of an air traffic control tower is an ideal application for Litetouch because of the quantity of low wattage lighting loads and integration requirements.  This unique environment requires individualized control of several small lighting loads (most not exceeding 100 watts), operation of solar screens, compact control stations and an ability to prevent night blindness due to the introduction of bright light while the cab is operating at night.

 Unique aspects of the space 

The cab portion of the tower has sectional window glass 360 degrees around the perimeter, each of the 18 sections has a motorized solar shade.  The on duty Air Traffic Controllers must have control of their shade along with two dimmable lighting loads each.  In addition there are general area lights and task lights at the convenience station.  The watch commander’s position requires both individual and group control of the blinds and all lighting loads.   During nighttime operation a system must be in place to prevent any of lighting loads from accidentally coming on at 100 percent.  

Solution 

The Metropolitan keypad was chosen for its ability to have six buttons with two lines of backlit engraving in a single gang keypad, thus reducing clutter at each of the operator’s positions.  This style of station also worked well in a four gang format for the watch commander’s position.   The LiteTouch 5000LC CCU was used with conditional statements activated by the astronomical clock to prevent lights from being turned on at 100 percent during nighttime operation.  Integration with the blind motor controls was done using the LiteTouch low voltage relay module.  If line voltage shade motors had been used; the high power relay module, with relays interlocked could have been used to operate the motors directly.