Solar LEDs light the way in Bahamas

has received a $2.6m order from the Nassau Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of the

for 16 of its wirelessly-controlled solar LED airfield lighting systems. The systems are scheduled for installation on remote islands throughout the

during October and November 2006.

Carmanah originally provided the Bahamas' main international airport with temporary use solar LED runway edge lighting to land commercial airliners while the primary runway was undergoing airfield maintenance. The success of this exercise led to the current contract.

General aviation airports on the Bahamas' remote islands serve domestic and international tourist traffic, with planes typically limited to smaller jets. In addition, these airports are used for 24-hour medical evacuation emergency operations. The majority of these airports do not currently have airfield lighting in place, and Nassau CAA required a lighting technology to cost-effectively improve night time air traffic safety.

Electrical infrastructure on these islands is limited and sometimes unreliable, so dependable solar LED lighting was viewed as an ideal solution. In addition, Carmanah's solar-powered LED airfield lighting can be installed without disruption to airfield operations, and it avoids the capital, maintenance and operating costs associated with diesel generator-powered systems.