Light-emitting diode (LED) lighting isn’t used exclusively in homes and buildings; you can now find it in airplanes and other types of aircraft as well. LED, in fact, has become one of the most popular lighting technologies used in the aviation industry. Here’s everything you need to know about LED lighting in aviation.
The Basics of LED Lighting
LED is a lighting technology that involves the use of electroluminescent diodes. All LED lights contain one or more diodes, which are responsible for producing light.
The term “electroluminescent” refers to a phenomenon in which a material or object produces light in response to an electrical current. LEDs are comprised of semiconductor diodes. As electricity flows through these diodes, they will illuminate. The diodes are made of a special material that allows them to release photons in response to an electrical current, thereby producing visible light.
How LED Compares to Incandescent Lighting
Before there was LED lighting, there was incandescent lighting. Incandescent, in fact, was the world’s leading technology for many decades. It wasn’t until the early 21st century that governments began to encourage businesses and citizens to switch to LED lighting.
Incandescent lighting is a more rudimentary technology. It involves the use of a filament, such as a wire, to produce light. Electricity will travel through the filament. Electrical resistance will then cause the filament to heat up. This heat, in turn, will produce light.
Why Airplanes Use LED Lighting
While many airplanes still use incandescent lighting for certain applications, LED has surpassed incandescent — and for good reason. LED offers several key advantages over incandescent that make it a popular choice for airplanes and other types of aircraft.
For starters, LED lighting is more efficient. LED lights are up to 10 times as energy efficient as the incandescent lights. And thanks to their energy-efficient properties, LED lights are less taxing on power systems.
Another reason airplanes use LED lighting is safety. They are generally safer than incandescent lights. This is due to the fact that LED lights are cooler (temperature-wise). While incandescent lights produce light through heat, LED lights produce light through electroluminescence.
Finally, LED lighting is long-lasting. No light lasts forever. If it runs for long enough, it will eventually burn out and need to be replaced. LED lights, however, are known for their long lifespan. They can run for tens of thousands of hours before needing to be replaced.
