New LED Apron Lighting Installed at LAX Terminal 4, Improving Operations and Energy Efficiency

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA–A state-of-the-art LED apron lighting system recently installed at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Terminal 4 enhances operations for pilots, air traffic controllers, and ground crew, while also reducing energy consumption at the terminal.  

Airport administrators deemed the new lighting necessary to replace the existing lighting equipment, and determined that an LED solution would deliver a wide range of benefits over the previous high-pressure sodium lighting. They considered a number of options and proposals from various manufacturers, and in the end, chose to partner with Iowa-based Musco Lighting.

“As we continue the work to reimagine LAX, we are making important safety and operational improvements which include installing lighting that both provides brighter illumination and reduces energy use,” said Michael R. Christensen, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) Deputy Executive Director for the Facilities Maintenance and Utilities Group. “To be able to see these gains while at the same time reduce energy demand is definitely a win for LAWA.”

LAX is the second busiest airport in the U.S., handling nearly 84.6 million passengers in 2017 alone. With the installation of Musco’s Total Light Control—TLC for LED™ technology, Terminal 4 underwent a transformation that benefits the facility’s operation.

The system’s light control capabilities and cut-off prevents light from spilling into unintended areas, as well as the night sky above LAX. Custom optics designed around the LEDs deliver a whiter and more uniform distribution of light, improving visibility for ground crews. And the system’s patented glare control technology eliminates glare from impacting pilots and air traffic controllers.

Helping to minimize installation costs, the new LED fixtures were factory aimed, wired and tested to retrofit onto existing poles at Terminal 4. The system features lighting, electrical, and structural components designed to work together and customized to meet the specific needs at LAX. With the new lighting in place, energy consumption will be reduced by 28 percent compared to the previous lighting at Terminal 4, and its CO2 emissions will be cut by 468 metric tons.

“The team at LAX was outstanding. They knew exactly what they needed and wanted out of the new apron lighting at Terminal 4, and worked closely with our engineers and project managers to develop a solution that would meet their distinct needs,” said Jeff Rogers, Vice President of Musco. “We’ve installed our LED technology at other major airports. The new lighting definitely has a positive impact for pilots, air traffic controllers, and ground staff.”

About Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

LAX is the fourth busiest airport in the world, second in the United States, and was named one of Skytrax’ 2017 Top 10 Most Improved Airports. LAX served more than 84 million passengers in 2017. LAX offers 737 daily nonstop flights to 100 cities in the U.S. and 1,386 weekly nonstop flights to 88 cities in 44 countries on 73 commercial air carriers. LAX ranks 14th in the world and fifth in the U.S. in air cargo tonnage processed, with more than 2.2 million tons of air cargo valued at over $101.4 billion. LAX handled 697,138 operations (landings and takeoffs) in 2016.

An economic study based on 2014 operations reported LAX generated 620,600 jobs in Southern California with labor income of $37.3 billion and economic output (business revenues) of more than $126.6 billion. This activity added $6.2 billion to local and state revenues and $8.7 billion in federal tax revenues. The study also reported that LAX’s ongoing capital-improvement program creates an additional 121,640 annual jobs with labor income of $7.6 billion and economic output of $20.3 billion, $966 million in state and local taxes, and $1.6 billion in federal tax revenues.

LAX is also the second most popular airport in the world to appear on Instagram according to wego.com. LAX is part of a system of two Southern California airports – along with Van Nuys general aviation – that are owned and operated by Los Angeles World Airports, a proprietary department of the City of Los Angeles that receives no funding from the City’s general fund.

For more information about LAX, please visit www.los-angeles-international.com, www.flyLAX.com or follow on Twitter @flyLAXAirport, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LAInternationalAirport, and on YouTube at www.YouTube.com/laxairport1.

As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and, upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. Alternative formats in large print, braille, audio, and other forms (if possible) will be provided upon request.

About Musco Lighting

Since 1976, Musco has shaped the history of sports, transportation, and infrastructure lighting with innovations in glare reduction and light control responsible to the needs of facility owners, users, neighbors, and the night sky. Musco’s TLC for LED™ system technology delivers a level of light control and uniformity that can’t be matched, and is the solution of choice for neighborhood fields, collegiate and professional stadiums and arenas, international airports, rail yards, the Olympic Games, iconic landmarks, and some of the largest ports around the world. Musco backs its LED solutions with a long-term warranty covering parts and labor. Musco Lighting is regarded as the world leader in transportation and infrastructure lighting which in the past few years alone has installed customized LED apron systems at major airports in the U.S., U.K., and Canada.