Siemens modernizes runway Palanga Airport Lithuania
Erlangen, Germany – A consortium consisting of the Siemens Industrial Solutions and Services Group (I&S) and the Lithuanian company, Lemminkainen Lietuva, has received an order to modernize Palanga Airport in Lithuania. The airport’s runway is to be widened, lengthened and equipped with new airfield lighting. All the airfield lighting equipment for Palanga Airport will be provided and installed by the Siemens subsidiary N.V. ADB S.A., Zaventem, Belgium. After modernization, the airport will be compliant to the conditions of CAT 2 (Category 2) of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Modernization of the airport is to be completed before the end of 2007. The volume of the project is EUR 6.5 million.
The number of passengers at Lithuania’s third largest airport has increased by a factor of 6 since 1994. "2006 was the first year we welcomed more than one hundred thousand air passengers", said Leonas Kvietkauskas, director of Palanga Airport.
In the course of the modernization work, the airfield lighting systems will be adapted to the ICAO safety standards of CAT 2 (Category 2). Existing lamps will be replaced with new energy-saving halogen lamps which have a longer life span. A new approach lighting system will enable precision and non-precision approaches as well as approaches according to visual flight or instrument flight rules. The pilot receives visual information on heading, roll, horizon, flying altitude and the distance from the runway. For non-precision approaches, some of the fixtures for the center-line lighting will be additionally fitted with a white, omni-directional light. This will make it possible to detect the approach direction quickly from all sides. A precision approach path indicator (PAPI) lighting system, consisting of four adjacent lamps, supplies the pilot with information on the approach altitude and the glide path.
Apart from the new standard lighting systems for the taxiway and the runway as well as obstruction lighting, the landing zone will also be equipped with a lighting system. In times of bad visibility, this will enable the pilot to maintain orientation after flying over the approach lighting system. For night operations and conditions of bad visibility, illuminated taxiway guidance signs will be installed.
The beginning and end of the runway will each be lengthened by 150 meters. The take-off and landing distance will therefore be 2.3 kilometers. The runway will be widened to 45 meters. Financing for the project will be provided by means of a fund from the European Union.
Further information at: http://www.siemens.com/airports
The Siemens Industrial Solutions and Services Group (I&S) is the integrator of systems and solutions for industrial and infrastructure facilities and global service provider for the plant and projects business covering planning, installation, operation and the entire life cycle. I&S uses its own products and systems and process technologies in order to enhance productivity and improve competitiveness of companies in the sectors of metallurgy, water treatment, pulp and paper, oil and gas, marine engineering, open-cast mining, airport logistics, postal automation, intelligent traffic systems and industrial services. In fiscal 2006 (to September 30) I&S employed a total of 36,200 people worldwide and achieved total sales of EUR 8.819 billion.
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