Airfield Lighting
Product Description
PAPI – Precision Approach Path Indicator
(PU3L)
Note: This page is blank for convenient double-sided printing.
Safegate Group
Date: March 2014
Version: 1.2
Airfield Lighting
Product Description
Ref: PU3L
1.
INTRODUCTION
The PU3L is an equipment to be used as a
unit in PAPI (four units) and APAPI (two
units) systems.
The PAPI system allows the pilot to have the
necessary visual information to place the
aircraft on the ideal approach slope and can
be used by day or night. The system can be
used by all aircraft as soon as it is set up
since it does not require any airborne
instrumentation.
One system normally comprises of four
identical indicators, each one producing a
white beam above a certain angle and a red
one underneath.
Red to white transition is accurate since it
does not exceed 3 minutes.
Four indicators, once installed, form one
single wing bar on the left side of the runway.
They are adjusted according to the different
site angles, this angle increasing from the
farthest indicator to the nearest one, from the
runway. The difference of site angle between
two consecutive units is generally 20
minutes.
Two symmetrical wing bars (that means 8
indicators) are recommended when no
horizontal indication can be given to pilots.
APAPI system is used as PAPI system but it
is composed of one wing bar formed by just
two units.
Compliance
The PU3L unit is in compliance with standards:

ICAO: Annex 14 Volume I Paragraph 5.3.4 for use in CAT I, II and III, Annex 14
Volume II Paragraph 5.3.4

FAA: L-880 and L-881 AC 150/5345-28D

CAP 168 on request

BS 3224
Utilisation
PAPI or APAPI
Visual Precision Approach Path Indicator Systems
Page 1 of 10
Safegate Group
Date: March 2014
Version: 1.2
Airfield Lighting
Product Description
Ref: PU3L
Location on the Field
PAPI SYSTEM
2.
APAPI SYSTEM
MAIN ADVANTAGES

The PU3L exist in three and two lamps versions.

The unit is mounted in standard on three legs (mounting on four legs is possible).

Only one lens to one lamp is necessary.

Clear transition from white to red with value not exceeding 3 minutes.

Excellent frangibility without sacrifice of any stability.

Front glass protecting lenses against sand, wind and engine blast.

Very easy site adjustment by using a clinometer (precision 1 minute).

Design ensures very good water-tightness (IP54) and protection against
corrosion.

Easy maintenance: Replacement of main elements (lamps, front glass, lenses or
reflectors) does not require either unit adjustment or any special tools.

Very easy access to all components by removing the cover.

Use of dichroic filters with high transmission factor and good thermal resistance.

The units of a system could be, as an option, fitted with tilt switch sub-assembly
devices.

The units of a system could be, as an option, fitted with heating resistors for use in
cold or wet areas.

Light weight: less than 15kg.
Page 2 of 10
Safegate Group
Date: March 2014
Version: 1.2
Airfield Lighting
Product Description
Ref: PU3L
3.
TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Component
Description
Lamp:
Two or three, 6.6 Amps (200W or 150W for PAPI or 100W for
APAPI) pre-focused halogen lamps with Pk30d sockets. Lamp
life greater than 1,000 hours at 6.6 Amps.
Coloured filter:
Red dichroic filter complying with Appendix 2 of ICAO Annex
14 recommendations.
Photometry:
Each unit are compliant with ICAO requirements and supplies
a luminous intensity exceeding 15,000 cd in red from -2° to
+2° horizontal wide beam and from -2° to +2° vertical wide
beam.
Visual range:
More than 11km by day and 30km by night (meteorological
visibility 14km).
Safety:
The unit is mounted on three (or four) frangible legs.
Working
temperature:
Between -35° and +55°C the units could be fitted with heating
resistors (with independent power supply) for use in very cold
or wet areas.
Electrical supply:
Two or three, two-pole secondary cables (one per lamp) must
be mounted and connected to the unit.
Tilt switch:
To comply with FAA 150/5345-28D L880 and L-881, the units
of the system must be equipped with "tilt switch" sub-assembly
devices (one unit is the "master" and the three other are the
"slaves"). This “Tilt switch” option allows the system to power
off when one of the four units is miss-aligned (for safety
reasons).
Finish:
The cover and the legs are made of phosphated aluminium
alloy painted in aviation yellow by an electrostatic process
(powder coating). The base plate is made of anodised
tempered aluminium alloy casting. All fixings and fastenings
are stainless steel.
Page 3 of 10
Safegate Group
Date: March 2014
Version: 1.2
Airfield Lighting
Product Description
Ref: PU3L
Packing Data
Designation
PU3L box alone
Pk30d lamp (x 100)
Set of three complete legs
Frangible coupling
Tripod stand (x 8)
Sealing rods (x 100)
Heating resistor kit
Tilt switch device
Setting tools suitcase
4.
Volume in m3
0.144
0.115
0.025
0.002
0.053
0.005
Dimensions in mm
580 x 225 x 800
1000 x 500 x 230
560 x 180 x 250
115 x 115 x 100
220 x 220 x 170
205 x 205 x 170
Weight in kg
17
1.8
7.5
0.8
3.1
8.5
0.001
355 x 300 x 90
2
PHOTOMETRICS
This section includes photometric examples of different light configurations.
Photometric examples
PAPI
ICAO and FAA L-880
PU3L (2 x 200 Watts)
APAPI
ICAO and FAA L-881
PU3L (2 x 100 Watts)
Page 4 of 10
Safegate Group
Date: March 2014
Version: 1.2
Airfield Lighting
Product Description
Ref: PU3L
5.
DESIGN
Components
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
PU3L
PU3L complete leg (x 3 or x 4)
PU3L base plate
Lens and fixation accessories
Lens/ reflector support and fixing
screws
Dichroic red filter
Filter support and fixing screws
Aluminium reflector and fixing screws
Pk30d type halogen lamp
Separating screen
Primary circuits connection terminal
Compression packer for cables entry
PU3L cover
Protection front glass gasket
Protection front glass
Options
15. Heating resistor
16. Tilt switch master device
17. Tilt switch slave device
18. Heating resistor terminal plate
Page 5 of 10
Safegate Group
Date: March 2014
Version: 1.2
Airfield Lighting
Product Description
Ref: PU3L
6.
INSTALLATION OPTIONS
SIZES
Page 6 of 10
Safegate Group
Date: March 2014
Version: 1.2
Airfield Lighting
Product Description
Ref: PU3L
Connection of Optional Tilt Switch
A PAPI system complying with FAA AC 150/5345-28D L-880 and L-881 can be
supplied. In this case all the units of the system have to be equipped with optional tilt
switch sub-assembly devices which de-energise all the lamps of the system when the
optical pattern of at least "one" unit is inadvertently lowered between ¼ and ½ degree
or raised between ½ and 1 degree with respect to the pre-set aiming angle.
A complete PAPI tilt switch system is composed of one PU3L master and three PU3L
slaves. The supply of tilt switch devices requires one supplementary isolating
transformer connected to the master PU3L.
WIRING OVERVIEW
1. Isolating transformer for the lamps
2. Isolating transformer for the supply
of the ”master” tilt switch devices
3. Primary cable
4. Secondary cable
5. Heating resistors supply 230 Vac
(option)
6. Alarm feedback cable (option)
Primary Cable
7. Cable for mercury contacts loop
a. relays supply (+12 Vdc)
b. heating resistors supply (option)
Connection of Optional Heating Resistor
In order to operate in very low temperature or in high humidity conditions without loss
of performance, the PU3L unit can be equipped with additional heating resistor.
As the heating effect must be efficient even if PAPI system is switched off, the resistor
has to be connected to an independent power supply (120 to 230 Vac 50/60 Hz).
Page 7 of 10
Safegate Group
Date: March 2014
Version: 1.2
Airfield Lighting
Product Description
Ref: PU3L
7.
ORDER CODES
Component
Order code
PU3L Box (alone)
ICAO Standard
 2 lamps
 3 lamps
PU3L+IC+2L
PU3L+IC+3L
British Standard
 2 lamps
 3 lamps
PU3L+BS+2L
PU3L+BS+3L
Accessories
Lamps (2 or 3 per PU3L)
 100W PK30d lamp
 150W PK30d lamp
 200W PK30d lamp
Pk30d/100W
Pk30d/150W
Pk30d/200W
Mounting accessories
 Set of three complete legs (tubes
diameter 60 mm length = 400 mm +
threaded rods)
 2” NPS frangible coupling (3 per
PU3L)
 2” BSP frangible coupling (3 per
PU3L)
 2” NPS tripod stand (3 per PU3L)
 2” BSP tripod stand (3 per PU3L)
Optional accessories
Heating resistor (1 kit per PU3L)
 heating resistor kit
tilt switch device (1 per PU3L)
 master tilt switch device (1per PAPI)
 slave tilt switch device (3 per PAPI)
Setting tools
 Setting tools suitcase
Page 8 of 10
PU3L_TRIP/LEG+H400mm
EL/2”NPS/COUPLING
EL/2”BSP/COUPLING
EL/2”NPS/TRIPODE _STAND
EL/2”BSP/ TRIPODE _STAND
PU3L/HEAT/RESIST
PU3L/TILT/SWITCH/MASTER
PU3L/TILT/SWITCH/SLAVE
PU3L/CLINOMETER/SET
Safegate Group
Date: March 2014
Version: 1.2
Airfield Lighting
Product Description
Ref: PU3L
8.
SPECIFICATION

PU3L Indicators shall comply with ICAO recommendations in Annex 14, Volume I
paragraph 5.3.5 or in Annex 14, Volume II paragraph 5.3.5, FAA L880 and L-881,
CAP 168 (on request) standards and BS 3224.

It shall be equipped with two or three pre-focused halogen lamps of 200W (PAPI)
or100W (APAPI). The lamp life shall be greater than 1,000 hours at 6.6 Amps.

Luminous intensity shall exceed 16,000 cd in red from -2° to +2° horizontal wide
beam and from

-2° to +2° vertical wide beam.

Each optical beam system shall comprise of only one optical lens, one red
dichroic filter and one reflector made of pure aluminium

The base plate shall be an anodised aluminium alloy casting. The cover and the
legs are made of phosphate aluminium alloy painted in aviation yellow by an
electrostatic process (powder coating). All fixings and fastening are to be stainless
steel

Each unit shall be mounted in standard on three legs (mounting on four legs is
possible).

Site adjustment of the beam shall be made by means of a clinometer.

Main elements (lamp, reflector) shall be easily replaceable without requiring the
unit to be adjusted.

Lenses shall be protected against sand wind and engine blast by a front glass.
Note: All descriptions and photometric characteristics in this publication present only
general particulars and shall not form part of any contract. The right is reserved to
change them without prior notification.
Page 9 of 10
Safegate Group
Date: March 2014
Version: 1.2
Airfield Lighting
Product Description
Ref: PU3L
Check in to the future
How many aircraft can your
airport handle today?
Can this number be increased
without adverse effects on the
airport’s safety level?
It is a known fact that traffic
volume will rise in the foreseeable
future. More movements will
demand monitoring of the entire
airport. Requirements will be
sharpened and the development
of an integrated system
controlling not only ground
movements but also air traffic
close to the airport is of the
highest interest.
The International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO) already
describes A-SMGCS, Advanced
Surface Movement Guidance and
Control System, as the answer to
the future modern airport need to
control the entire airport space in
one superior system.
To a larger extent than today’s
systems, A-SMGCS will rely on
automated processes to give both
pilots and traffic controllers exact
information about positions and
directions. Safegate Group
delivers complete A-SMGCS
solutions already, as well as all
vital parts relating to it.
Safegate Group can check your
airport into the future
– today!
India
india@safegate.com
+91 11 4106 1545
Singapore
singapore@safegate.com
+65 6289 6893
Finland
finland@safegate.com
+358 (0)20754 7700
Malaysia
malaysia@safegate.com
+60 32 011 3522
Spain
spain@safegate.com
+34 917 157 598
China
china@safegate.com
+8610-85275297
France
france@safegate.com
+33 (0)1 42 99 60 40
Qatar
qatar@safegate.com
+974 436 9628
UK
uk@safegate.com
+44 (0)208 573 0384
Dubai
dubai@safegate.com
+971 4 452 75 75
Germany
germany@safegate.com
+49 (0)4121 464 303
Russia
russia@safegate.com
+7 495 917 4614
USA
usa@safegate.com
+1 763 535 92 99
Safegate Group HQ
Djurhagegatan 19
SE-213 76 Malmö, Sweden
Phone: +46 (0)40 699 17 00
Fax: +46 (0)40 699 17 30
E-mail: market@safegate.com
Brazil
brazil@safegate.com
+55 11 2137 4405
Australia
australia@safegate.com
+61 (0)3 9720-3233
Austria
office@avibit.com
+43 316 429961
Safegate Group offers solutions for increased safety, efficiency and environmental benefits to airports worldwide. The company was founded in 1973 and has its
headquarters in Malmö, Sweden. Safegate Group has more than 70 partners around the globe in order to be close to its customers.
Earlier members of Safegate Group include Thorn AFL and Idman, whoPage
both10
have
over 40 years of experience in airfield lighting solutions for airports and
of 10
heliports. The latest member of Safegate Group is Avibit, a leading provider of next generation software applications and integration of efficient air traffic control
systems. Safegate Group’s complete range of products and services, a “one-stop shop”, provides solutions to customers and airborne travellers around the globe.
www.safegate.com