While we often overlook the importance of small components of the ecosystem such as obstruction lights, they are indeed a critical element to ensure safe operations for towercos, MNOs and obviously for the aviation industry. With innovation and R&D always on the move, TowerXchange had a chat with Avialite’s Director, Chew Ein Li to discuss the latest in aviation lights standards and quality.
TowerXchange: Please tell us about Avialite, its footprint and activities.
Chew Ein Li, Director, Avialite:
Avialite is a specialised manufacturer of LED aviation obstruction lights for tall structures, towers, chimneys, buildings and power transmission lines. Since 2004, we have been manufacturing a full range of low and medium intensity lights, AC-DC power supply type and solar powered aviation lights. We have a keen focus on R&D and design of aviation lights which are certified to fulfil the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and approved by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAA). At Avialite, inventing never stops. Whether it is tool-free maintenance or lightweight brackets, the little details have always mattered most to us. We are based in Malaysia, with our headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, and factory in Terengganu.
Our focus is mainly in the Asia region where tower portfolios are increasing in number over the years and high rise buildings and power transmission lines are constructed in increasing quantity. Emerging markets such as Myanmar, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Cambodia offer vast opportunities for our obstruction lights and we have been active in these countries for fourteen years now.
TowerXchange: Can you share some of your customers with us?
Chew Ein Li, Director, Avialite:
Our main customers are MNOs and towercos from across the region. Major customers in Malaysia include edotco Malaysia, Telekom Malaysia, Maxis, YTL, Rohas-Euco, LeBlanc and many of the State-backed tower companies such as Sacofa. Our overseas clients include edotco Myanmar, Indosat, Telkomsel, SMART, Bell Tell and more.
TowerXchange: From which countries are you seeing most demand for your products? How are your products sold worldwide – do you sell direct or through local partners?
Chew Ein Li, Director, Avialite:
Our main market is the ASEAN region. In certain markets we sell directly while for others we have local partners who serve as distributors. Most of the demand for our products come from emerging markets with high tower population and growth such as Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam and the Philippines.
TowerXchange: Are the requirements for aviation warning lights standardised worldwide, or are there different requirements in different markets? And what are those requirements?
Chew Ein Li, Director, Avialite:
The requirements for aviation warning lights are generally the same worldwide and are standardised by the ICAO and FAA. Most countries across the world adapt to the ICAO and FAA standards.
What differs is the level of enforcement by the country’s Department of Civil Aviation and thus results in different levels of implementation of the standard by the MNOs and towercos or by building owners. Also the awareness in terms of safety aspects by the structure owners will determine if they fully comply with ICAO or local requirements.
TowerXchange: What is the optimum balance between maximising visibility whilst minimising light pollution?
Chew Ein Li, Director, Avialite:
The visibility requirements have been clearly defined by ICAO in their specifications for the various classification of lights in terms of low, medium or high intensity based on the height and size of structures and the hazard it poses on aviation safety. To minimise light pollution, ICAO specifications have very clearly defined the beam width for the medium and high intensity lights to be only three degrees horizontally, with only 1.5 degree above and 1.5 degree below the horizon. We have custom-built equipment to allow us to conduct extensive research on our lights to meet these standards.
TowerXchange: How do you ensure the long lifespan of your lighting systems to minimise maintenance and replacement costs?
Chew Ein Li, Director, Avialite:
We design all our lights with very high Ingress Protection of IP67 rating which completely prevents dust and moisture to enter the lamp, which is a problem especially in the wet and humid Asian tropical climate. We also build in high electrical surge protection into our electronics to prevent failure due to severe lightning surges during thunderstorms, which are quite common across the region.
We use the best and most reliable components in all our electronics and plastic parts. The LEDs of our lamp are from world renowned brands like CREE and OSRAM. The plastic we use for the clear cover of our medium intensity aviation lamp is made of high quality PMMA material that is UV stabilised to ensure there is no significant colour change, yellowing or cracking up of plastic components for more than ten years.
TowerXchange: What warranty is offered with your aviation warning light systems?
Chew Ein Li, Director, Avialite:
We generally offer a two-year one-to-one swap warranty. However, this can also be extended to a five-year warranty upon customer request with a small increase in price. Avialite warranty to our customers is fully comprehensive and we simply offer a new replacement unit should a customer inform us of a failure within the warranty period.
TowerXchange: How have your products been designed to ensure safe and correct mounting on tall structures?
Chew Ein Li, Director, Avialite:
Our products are designed to be lightweight and robust, and we have the option of providing our specially designed lamp bracket to ensure safe and correct mounting to the towers or tall structures. We also can customise the mounting bracket design should our client have a different tower design from the standard. Our products have also been designed to minimise wind load on the tower by reducing the shape and size of the product for low wind drag.
TowerXchange: Please sum up how you would differentiate Avialite’s aviation warning light systems from your competitors’.
Chew Ein Li, Director, Avialite:
Our products are designed to offer our customers high reliability with minimum maintenance for periods of five to ten years. We do not compromise on quality in our selection of raw materials and components. We also design our products to meet or exceed most customer requirements in spite of tough climatic conditions or high lightning incidences.
Over the past 14 years, Avialite has proven to its growing pool of customers that our products generally outlast those of our competitors and have a long maintenance-free lifespan.
