Giffels engineered a unique programmable logic control (PLC) system for the control and monitoring of all airfield lighting systems at Toronto Pearson International Airport. A fully distributed network of PLC’s located in the Remote Field Electrical Centres (FEC’s) was designed to communicate over dual redundant fibre optic cables run round the facility.

Giffels developed an implementation method for conversion of the old to new control system without impact to operations. In the tower, old C703 panels were replaced with the new PC based touchscreen controls. The system communicates over fibre optic cables to the PLC controllers. The full functionality of the old C703 panels was imitated in the new touchscreen facility.

Colour graphic touchscreen PC’s were developed for the air traffic controllers to monitor and control airfield lighting levels. Separate pages are displayed for runway and taxiway. The controllers navigate to the desired screen and, by touching “virtual buttons” on the PC screen, change the settings of the runway or apron lights.