[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 55 (Wednesday, April 21, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E716-E717]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE MILITARY AIRFIELD SAFETY

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. JAMES A. TRAFICANT, JR.

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 21, 1999

  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, earlier today I introduced legislation to 
authorize the U.S. military to test and evaluate Mobile Expeditionary 
Accurate Night Vision Compatible Portable Airfield Lighting Systems 
(MEANPALS). This legislation will allow all branches of the U.S. 
military to benefit from enhanced vision technologies, which have a 
proven track record of dramatically improving airfield visibility under 
any weather conditions.
  MEANPALS is a mobile airfield lighting system that provides all the 
necessary elements to establish a 10,000 foot runway on improved or 
unimproved airfield landing sites. It utilizes enhanced vision 
technologies, including laser guidance systems. It provides accurate 
runway centerline lineup cues along with glidepath lineup information 
during landing approach to the airfield. My bill authorizes $1.3 
million for the U.S. Army to research, develop, test, and evaluate two 
MEANPALS at one location that serves both fixed wing and rotor

[[Page E717]]

aircraft; $650,000 for the U.S. Marine Corps to evaluate one MEANPALS 
for use by Marine aircraft, as well as amphibious landing craft and the 
direction of ground vehicles; and $1.95 million for the Air Force 
Reserve or Air National Guard to evaluate MEANPALS at three different 
locations for use as assault runways and for large commercial airport 
use.
  Enhanced vision technologies such as laser guidance systems have been 
fully tested and deployed by some branches of the U.S. military, 
including the U.S. Navy. The technology has proven itself under a 
myriad of conditions. Enhanced vision technologies represent a dramatic 
breakthrough in improving flight crew situational awareness during 
airplane landings--especially in low visibility situations. Laser 
guidance systems provide pilots with a visual navigation flight path 
from as far as 20 miles from the runway, with the precision of an 
advanced instrument landing system. Best of all, the installation of 
laser guidance and cold cathode technologies to replace or enhance 
conventional landing light systems will require no additional aircraft 
equipment. The combination of enhanced vision technologies with the 
latest ground proximity warning systems will dramatically reduce the 
number of controlled flight into terrain accidents.
  As noted above, the U.S. Navy has deployed enhanced vision 
technologies on its aircraft carriers. Here's what some Navy pilots had 
to say about laser guidance systems:

       There's no guessing involved. It's light years ahead of 
     what we have.

       Response to simple color change puts you on line as far out 
     as 20 miles.

       I think the laser line-up is the greatest technical 
     improvement for landing at night ever. It is invaluable for 
     safety, comfort, and efficiency when landing.

       I really like the system. It will prove especially valuable 
     on days when weather conditions are a factor in approaches.

  Here's what the head of the U.S. Park Police had to say about tests 
the Park Police helicopter units conducted last year:

       The Cold Cathode heliport lights . . . have received very 
     favorable comments by our pilots . . . They have reported 
     that their ability to see and recognize these lights was 
     greatly enhanced compared to the existing incandescent lights 
     . . . In some cases my pilots reported that they could be 
     seen twice as far away compared to the incandescent lighting. 
     During the evaluation period we had to replace all of the 
     incandescent lighting several times while only one of the 
     Cold Cathode lights burned out.

  These technologies, especially laser guidance systems and cold 
cathode lights, have been extensively tested. They are also cheaper to 
maintain than conventional lighting. For example, cold cathode lights 
have a lifetime cost of only 20 percent of that of incandescent lights.
  My legislation will allow all branches of the U.S. military to 
benefit from this exciting technology. Mr. Speaker, the deployment of 
MEANPALS by the Army, Marines and Air Force will save lives and save 
money. I urge all Members to support this bill.

                          ____________________