Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) is to invest £9 million in new energy efficient Aeronautical Ground Lighting (AGL) systems at Kirkwall and Inverness airports as part of an ongoing programme to maintain airport infrastructure that will also bring environmental benefits. 

Following open tender processes, contractors GMR Henderson have been awarded the contract to carry out the work at Kirkwall, with G&A Barnie selected for the project at Inverness.

The AGL system provides visual guidance to pilots during landing, taxiing and take-off in darkness and when visibility is impaired due to adverse weather conditions. The new lighting will ensure  the airports can continue to operate safely and be compliant with Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) requirements. They will also reduce energy consumption by up to 80%.

The work has been planned to ensure  there is no impact on flights with little disturbance at either airport. Set to begin in April, the work will continue through to mid-September at Inverness, with Kirkwall due to complete in October.

Graeme Bell, Inverness Airport General Manager, said: “The new lighting represents a significant modernisation of our airfield lighting system and will contribute to decreased maintenance schedules while at the same time reducing the airport’s environmental footprint.

“The energy saving qualities of the new system will contribute significantly to reducing our energy consumption at Inverness airport”. Kirkwall Airport Manager, Kimberley Fisher, said: “Having this new LED AGL system in place not only keeps our runways safe and compliant with regulation, but also supports our work to be more energy efficient.

“The project has been designed to create a seamless transition from the old to the new more sustainable system without impacting our services.” Of the overall figure, £5 million is being invested in Kirkwall and £4 million in Inverness.