Med-Evac, tactical, and utility companies have been using pi-lit®’s Landing Zone Kit for years. Extending our mesh network technology for use in infrared LED flares, pi-lit has created a novel tool to guide rotary wing (helicopter) aircraft with landing zone lights.
This enables emergency response teams and pilots to safely land in non-controlled areas such as roadways, fields, etc. Pilots who use Night Vision Goggles (NVG) frequently use our IR-fitted devices.
How pi-lit Guided The Way to a Major Festival in 2022
Med-Evac will fly into this large event in the Black Rock Desert every year to easily transport attendees if needed. CrowdRX has been on the scene at Burning Man for years, providing intensive, comprehensive onsite medical services in the remote Black Rock Desert in Nevada.
History of Landing Zones in the Black Rock Desert
In the past, local airports used vegetable coloring to dye the desert, creating a makeshift runway. However, with the wind and low visibility, this was not an ideal traffic control situation, especially since the coloring in the plane and helicopter landing zones wasn’t able to act as a warning light. One year, a pilot crashed a small aircraft, which caused no injuries but accentuated the need for greater visibility and safety.
To provide a visual aid for the approaching pilots, CrowdRX called upon pi-lit to “tweak” our sequential-flashing flares to burn for 14 hours with continuous light output and for much brighter than our standard product.
What We Did
We added additional batteries to each flare for ballast against jet wash and for a longer glow time. The impromptu airfield was 100% created by pi-lit guidance flares, made with an ultra-bright LED light for this large event.
Pilots landing on this temporary landing strip exclaimed, “I felt as though [they] had created an entire runway in the desert for us. Easy to see and approach from miles away.”
For 2023, the temporary airport plans to expand, including with a lounge tent. Now, visitors and pilots can trust that pi-lit products will be on the ground, enhancing safety during touchdown and takeoff.
Try Our Smart Med-Evac Landing Zone Kits
At pi-lit, we offer smart med-evac landing zone kits for pilots looking for a safe, easy solution. Pilots rely on the pi-lit Smart LZ Kit for a safe landing, with the kit’s radio-connected flares flashing in unison to create an easily recognizable area with a constellation effect.
Each LZ flare in our portable helicopter landing zones is equipped with dual LED modes, visible and infrared, to easily guide pilots toward the LED lights, even with a pilot’s night vision. They are available with rechargeable or alkaline batteries and just require the switch of a button. It utilizes push-button flash patterns, so you can choose between a flash pattern or a constant glow.
If you have a unique use case for pi-lit® products, give us a call. We’re right there with you – we’d love to brainstorm together to help you bring your crews home safely every night!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why LED lights for helicopter landing zones?
LED bulbs provide superior visibility for perimeter lighting or a helicopter landing zone, and have no pollution or fire danger risks associated with them. The rechargeable beacons automatically activate when removed from their carry bag, and can withstand extreme impact and handle extreme temperatures or weather conditions.
This makes for a safer alternative to traditional flares and, in the instance of helicopter landing zone lights, increases the perimeter lighting visibility as opposed to traffic cones or standard light sticks.
How strong are your LZ kits?
At pi-lit, our LZ kits boast a 50,000 lb crush strength, lab tested and certified, with an IP67 water and dust rating. Our rechargeable batteries last for 20+ hours, while our alkaline battery editions boast a 36+ hour runtime of continuous flash.
