Status lights
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - International Codes - 2009 MODU Code - Code for the Construction and Equipment of Mobile Offshore Drilling Units, 2009 – Resolution A.1023(26) - Chapter 13 - Helicopter Facilities1 - 13.5 Visual aids - Status lights

Status lights

  13.5.26 Status lights should be installed to provide warning that a condition exists on the unit which may be hazardous for the helicopter or its occupants. The status lights should be a flashing red lightfootnote (or lights), visible to the pilot from any direction of approach and on any landing heading. The system should be automatically initiated when the toxic gas alarm under paragraph 5.7.2 is initiated as well as being capable of manual activation at the helideck. It should be visible at a range in excess of the distance at which the helicopter may be endangered or may be commencing a visual approach. The status light system should:

  • .1 be installed either on or adjacent to the helideck. Additional lights may be installed in other locations on the unit where this is necessary to meet the requirement that the signal be visible from all approach directions, i.e. 360° in azimuth;

  • .2 have an effective intensity of at least 700 cd between 2° and 10° above the horizontal and at least 176 cd at all other angles of elevation;

  • .3 be provided with a facility to enable the output of the lights (if and when activated) to be dimmed to an intensity not exceeding 60 cd while the helicopter is landed on the helideck;

  • .4 be visible from all possible approach directions and while the helicopter is landed on the helideck, regardless of heading with a vertical beam spread as describe above;

  • .5 use lights that are ‘red’ as defined by ICAOfootnote;

  • .6 flash at a rate of 120 flashes per minute and, if two or more lights are needed to meet this requirement, they should be synchronised to ensure an equal time gap (to within 10%) between flashes. Provision should be made to reduce the flash rate to 60 flashes per minute should a helicopter be on the helideck. The maximum duty cycle should be no greater than 50%;

  • .7 have facilities at the helideck to manually override the automatic activation of the system;

  • .8 reach full intensity in not more than three seconds at all times;

  • .9 be designed so that no single failure will prevent the system operating effectively. In the event that more than one light unit is used to meet the flash rate requirement, a reduced flash frequency of at least 60 flashes per minute is acceptable in the failed condition for a limited period; and

  • .10 where supplementary ‘repeater’ lights are employed for the purposes of achieving the ‘on deck’ 360° coverage in azimuth, these should have a minimum intensity of 16 cd and a maximum intensity of 60 cd for all angles of azimuth and elevation.

Parent topic: 13.5 Visual aids
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