Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport Retrofits Lighting for Quality, Efficiency, and Reduced Maintenance

PARADISE, Nev.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–A state-of-the-art LED lighting system was installed at McCarran
International Airport (LAS) which significantly enhances light quality,
improves efficiency, and eliminates maintenance.

The nation’s eighth-busiest airport, LAS replaced its previous
high-pressure sodium lighting with energy efficient LED fixtures on more
than 170 lighting poles near the airport’s gates. This allows workers on
the ramp to see more clearly, and more significantly, reduces glare to
pilots as they maneuver aircraft in and out of the busy Las Vegas
airport. The changes also reduce energy consumption by up to 50 percent
while still improving lighting levels and coverage in the affected areas.

After exploring several options, LAS chose to partner with
Musco—regarded as the world leader in large area lighting. Musco’s LED
system is complete with lighting fixtures, structural, and electrical
components designed to work together, providing the airport with a
reliable, trouble-free solution.

“As we embarked upon this project, the primary goals for McCarran were
to maximize energy savings while increasing lighting and visibility with
minimal glare,” said James Chrisley, Deputy Director of Aviation,
Operations. “The Musco system allowed us to achieve just that.”

A key feature of the new LED system is its ability to control light in a
way that creates a setting virtually identical to daytime hours in the
areas intended to be lit, without spilling light or creating glare above
and around the airport—a crucial consideration for pilots, air traffic
controllers, and neighbors as the city continues expanding around LAS.

“The Musco team was great to work with from the beginning. They provided
all of the engineering documents we needed to ensure their system would
exceed design requirements,” said Dustin Colwell, Engineer, Kimley-Horn
and Associates, Inc. “The new lights provided better light level
coverage, reduced glare, and reduced wind loading on existing poles and
foundations.”

Installation was handled by Helix Electric, and completed in May.
Musco’s system design and project management expertise helped ensure
that the install didn’t impact daily operations at the airport. With the
system in place, the energy savings is predicted to remove the CO2
equivalent of taking 1,604 cars off the road for a year.

“We’ve lit several airports, and each one presents its own unique
challenges,” said Jeff Rogers, Vice President of Musco Lighting. “During
the design process, our engineering and project management teams worked
on site to understand LAS’ specific ground operations and gate lighting
needs to ensure we customize and apply our system in a way that achieves
their lighting goals.”

The project is being partially funded by a $65,000 rebate from the
Nevada Energy’s SureBet incentive program. The new system is backed by a
10-year parts and labor warranty, eliminating the need for LAS to handle
or pay for any maintenance. With an expected savings of $1.3 million in
energy and maintenance costs over the next decade.

About McCarran International Airport
McCarran International
Airport is located in the shadows of the world-famous Las Vegas Strip
and is the gateway for nearly half of the people who visit Southern
Nevada each year. Including arrivals and departures, McCarran hosted
more than 47.4 million passengers in 2016, making it the eighth-busiest
airport in North America. With 30 airlines providing nonstop service to
more than 130 destinations, McCarran makes it possible for the world to
experience one of the most alluring travel destinations. McCarran
International Airport is owned and operated by Clark County, Nevada, and
does not benefit from local tax dollars.

About Musco Lighting
Since 1976, Musco Lighting has
specialized in the design and manufacture of sports and large area
lighting solutions around the world. Musco has pioneered systems using
metal halide and LED technologies that have made dramatic improvements
in energy efficiency and provided affordable ways to control spill light
and glare. Permanent and temporary lighting solutions range from
neighborhood pitches to Olympic Games. Musco has a global team of
experts that partner with customers to plan, complete, and maintain a
cost-effective, trouble-free lighting solution for their facility.
For
more information on Musco’s innovative lighting solutions, visit: www.musco.com.

Contacts

McCarran International Airport
Christine Crews, 702-261-5154
[email protected]
or
Musco
Lighting
Jason Van Wyk, 641-673-0411
[email protected]