Luminator Aerospace lights up Middle East as business potential beckons

From incandescent to LED lights

Plano, Texas-headquartered Luminator Aerospace, a division of Luminator Technology Group, is not just a leading manufacturer of advanced LED lighting and signage for commercial, corporate, and military fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft but also a beacon of innovation in the aviation industry.

Luminator Aerospace’s products are more than just essential for lighting, signage, and passenger comfort in commercial, general, and military aviation. They are a reliable presence, offering interior and exterior lighting solutions tailored for major operators, OEMs, and tier I and II customers, including passenger cabin lighting, navigation lights, emergency signs, and searchlights.

Renowned for innovative design and engineering excellence, Luminator Aerospace is a fully integrated supplier with design, manufacturing, and testing capabilities.

The company was a key exhibitor at Dubai Helishow, held at Skydive Dubai from October 22 to 24, 2024, where Larry Saunders, Sales Manager of Luminator Aerospace, elaborated on the latest offerings for the aviation sector in the Middle East.

Excerpts from the interview:

What is Luminator Aerospace showcasing at Dubai Helishow 2024?

Our standout product at the Dubai Helishow 2024 is the PAR 46, a cutting-edge LED searchlight. This searchlight, fully controllable by the helicopter pilot, is a game-changer, replacing the older incandescent lamps commonly found in helicopters.

It is equipped with a high-intensity discharge (HID) bulb, and our LED version currently delivers about 780,000 candle power, approaching 1,000,000. This is a significant upgrade; everything from the motor to the gearing has been enhanced.

We have about 1,200 of these units currently in operation across the market.

That is impressive! And what about your larger model?

Yes, we also have the new LED LS-400 Orion searchlight. This larger searchlight can produce between 50 to 60 million candle power and is widely used by organisations such as the [US] Border Patrol and [US] Coast Guard, as well as in search and rescue (SAR) operations. The improvements in both models make them incredibly effective tools for visibility in critical situations.

What aspects of the Middle East market appeal to Luminator?

Our six-year presence at the Dubai Helishow is a testament to our commitment to the Middle East market. The event has doubled in size, a clear sign of the region’s growing interest in aviation technology.

Our presence is significant as we have established many regional customer relationships. We aim to continue growing alongside this market by introducing more products beyond searchlights, such as mood lighting and signage systems.

What makes the Middle Eastern market unique in terms of customer needs?

There is a growing demand for more efficient lighting solutions in the region’s aviation sector. Customers are increasingly requesting lower-wattage options for their helicopters. Our new LED searchlights only require about 99 watts to operate, significantly less than the 200-250 watts older models used.

This shift enhances energy efficiency and reduces the necessity for larger circuit breakers in helicopters. Our lights are much brighter—three to four times so—compared to outdated incandescent systems, which is a significant advantage for operators in the Middle East. Additionally, many helicopters still rely on older lamps, representing an untapped market for our products.

What do you see as Luminator’s future in the Middle East region?

The future looks very promising. As we continue to innovate and improve our products, we plan to strengthen our relationships with existing customers while reaching new ones. The Middle East is a rapidly growing market for aviation technology, and we are excited to be part of its evolution.

Our goal is to provide cutting-edge solutions that meet and exceed customer expectations. With ongoing advancements in lighting technology, we are positioned well to capitalise on these opportunities.

Integrating new technology into existing airframes can be a challenge. How does Luminator handle this?

Integration is straightforward for us. Our lights are designed to be plug-and-play, allowing them to fit naturally into standard airframes without requiring extensive modifications. We ensure they are an exact fit in terms of form and function.

We add a supplemental STC (Supplemental Type Certificate) package to get our lights approved for any airframe. For instance, our lights are set to be installed on the AW139, showcased here at the Dubai Helishow.

Featured image: A view of the Luminator Aerospace exhibitor stand at Dubai Helishow 2024. Credit: Arnold Pinto

Last Updated on 1 month by Arnold Pinto