LED Lighting for Aircraft Hangars

Understanding LED Aircraft Hangar Lighting Solutions

Aircraft hangars present unique lighting challenges with their vast open spaces and soaring ceilings. Our Product Specialists understand that proper illumination is critical for both safety and operational efficiency in these demanding environments. With over 15 years of experience in hangar lighting projects, LED Lighting Supply's expertise ensures you get the right solution for your specific facility needs.

Our LED high bay lights deliver the concentrated power and lumens necessary to effectively illuminate large hangar spaces. We've found that facilities using our fixtures with 60-degree beam angle optics achieve optimal light distribution on tall ceiling applications, ensuring adequate illumination reaches both aircraft surfaces and floor work areas below.

Proven Benefits of LED Fixtures for Aircraft Hangar Applications

Extended Service Life: Our fixtures provide 50,000+ hours of maintenance-free operation without lamp or ballast replacements, dramatically reducing ongoing maintenance expenses and operational disruptions.

Substantial Energy Cost Reductions: LED Lighting Supply's customers frequently tell us they achieve 60% to 75% energy cost reductions compared to traditional metal halide and fluorescent systems. Adding occupancy sensors can increase these savings even further, making LED hangar lights an economically smart choice for energy efficiency.

Advanced Control Integration: We engineer solutions that include motion and occupancy sensors on select high bay models. These systems automatically adjust to full power when activity is detected and dim or turn off during periods of inactivity.

Rapid Return on Investment: The energy savings our lights generate typically result in 1-2 year payback periods. Higher utility rates per kWh accelerate this return on investment even more.

Optimized for High-Ceiling Performance: Our Product Specialists understand the challenges of lighting spaces with 20-80 foot ceilings. We offer multiple optic packages and power levels engineered to deliver effective light distribution and create properly illuminated work environments.

Enhanced Safety and Reliability: Our LED fixtures provide consistent, high-quality illumination over their entire lifespan, unlike metal halide and fluorescent systems that experience significant light degradation and unexpected failures.

Immediate Full Output: LED Lighting Supply's fixtures reach 100% brightness instantly upon activation, eliminating the warm-up delays associated with traditional hangar lighting.

Streamlined Installation Process: Our hangar lights are designed for straightforward installation and wiring in both new construction and retrofit applications. Complete instructions are included, and the reduced electrical load often eliminates the need for electrical panel upgrades.

We upgraded this aircraft hangar with our 60 / 80 / 100 Watt Adjustable UFO High Bay | 8400 to 14000 Lumens LED UFO High Bay fixtures

Industry-Standard Illumination Levels for Aviation Facilities

Our Product Specialists understand that different hangar activities require specific lighting levels to ensure safety and productivity. Based on industry standards and our extensive project experience, we recommend these illumination targets:

• General Work and Storage: 30 foot candles
• Aircraft Maintenance with Basic Tasks: 30-50 foot candles
• Aircraft Maintenance with Detailed Work: 70-100 foot candles
• Drilling, Riveting, and Fastening Operations: 75 foot candles
• Final Assembly Work: 100 foot candles
• Quality Inspection Tasks: 50-200 foot candles
• Welding Operations: 50 foot candles
• Aircraft Storage Only: 30-50 foot candles

Our 480 Watt UFO High Bay Light | 76800 Lumens High Bay fixtures delivered exceptional illumination for this overseas helicopter hangar project

Choosing the Right LED Hangar Lighting Solution

With over 15 years of experience, our team has identified the optimal fixture types for different hangar applications and requirements:

UFO Round Hangar Lights: These circular LED fixtures excel as direct replacements for metal halide and HID systems. Built with high-impact ratings and waterproof construction, they perform exceptionally well in high-ceiling applications from 20-80 feet. Our UFO fixtures range from 60W to 300W with multiple beam angle options to match your specific mounting height and coverage needs.

Linear Rectangular Lights: LED linear fixtures provide excellent light distribution for ceiling heights up to 40 feet, making them ideal replacements for fluorescent and T5 systems. We stock linear fixtures from 120W to 400W, allowing you to match or improve upon existing fluorescent installations.

Dimmable LED Options: Available in both UFO and linear styles, these fixtures include dimmable LED drivers with 0-10V or 1-10V compatibility. Dimmable hangar lights work particularly well when paired with motion sensor controls for maximum energy efficiency.

Motion Sensor-Equipped Fixtures: We offer both microwave and PIR infrared motion sensor technologies. LED Lighting Supply's expertise ensures you get the right sensor type for your environment. For dusty conditions, our microwave motion sensors provide superior reliability compared to traditional PIR sensors.

Wattage-Adjustable Solutions: These fixtures feature onboard switches allowing you to select optimal wattage and lumen output after installation. When customers need flexibility to fine-tune light levels, we recommend wattage-adjustable fixtures for maximum adaptability.

Color Temperature Adjustable Lights: Onboard controls allow selection between color temperatures typically ranging from 3000K to 5000K. Our customers frequently tell us that 3000K provides warm, comfortable lighting, while 5000K closely matches traditional metal halide output. 4000K offers lighting similar to fluorescent systems.

We illuminated this customer's hangar using 100 / 120 / 150 / 200 Watt Adjustable UFO High Bay | 15000 to 30000 Lumens high bay fixtures.

Quantified Energy Savings and Maintenance Cost Reductions

Our hangar LED installations consistently deliver 60-75% energy savings compared to metal halide and fluorescent systems. The maintenance cost reduction proves equally impressive, with traditional metal halide fixtures requiring lamp replacement every 2-3 years and ballast replacement every 5-7 years. Our LED fixtures eliminate these recurring expenses with 50,000+ hour lifespans.

We've found that facilities using our solutions in typical 50,000 square foot hangars save $15,000-25,000 annually in combined energy and maintenance costs. The payback period typically ranges from 2-4 years, depending on local utility rates and operational patterns.

Performance Comparison: 150W LED vs 400W Metal Halide System

Based on 12 hours daily operation, 365 days annually at $0.12/kWh utility rate

Metal Halide System (460W total with ballast)

Annual Cost: $241.78 | 5-Year Cost: $1,208.88

LED UFO Fixture (150W)

Annual Cost: $78.84 | 5-Year Cost: $394.20 | 5-Year Savings: $16,293.60

Single Fixture Annual Savings: $162.94 | 20 Fixture Annual Savings: $3,259 | ROI Timeline: Under 9 months

Energy Reduction: 67% | 5-Year ROI: 14,848% | Service Life: 50,000+ hours (LED) vs 15,000 hours (Metal Halide)

Performance Comparison: 300W LED vs 1000W Metal Halide System

Based on 12 hours daily operation, 365 days annually at $0.12/kWh utility rate

Metal Halide System (1150W total with ballast)

Annual Cost: $604.44 | 5-Year Cost: $3,022.20

LED UFO Fixture (300W)

Annual Cost: $157.68 | 5-Year Cost: $788.40 | 5-Year Savings: $44,676.00

Single Fixture Annual Savings: $446.76 | 20 Fixture Annual Savings: $8,935 | ROI Timeline: Under 11 months

Energy Reduction: 74% | 5-Year ROI: 11,504% | Service Life: 50,000+ hours (LED) vs 15,000 hours (Metal Halide)

Maintenance Cost Elimination: 400W Metal Halide vs 150W LED Analysis

LED Lighting Supply's expertise ensures you understand the complete cost picture when upgrading from 400W metal halide to 150W LED fixtures. The maintenance cost reduction alone justifies the investment for most facilities.

Why Maintenance Costs Drop Dramatically

• Metal Halide Maintenance Requirements
  • Lamp replacement every 2-3 years due to rapid lumen degradation reaching 30% within the first year
  • Ballast replacement every 5-7 years as components wear out from heat stress and electrical cycling
  • High labor and equipment costs for accessing fixtures mounted 20-60 feet high, requiring lifts or scaffolding
• LED Maintenance Requirements
  • No lamp or ballast replacements needed with integrated LED design and 50,000+ hour lifespans
  • Consistent lumen output over time eliminates early replacement cycles
  • Significantly reduced service requirements minimize lift rentals and crew downtime

10-Year Maintenance Cost Analysis Per Fixture:

• Lamp Replacement Costs
  • 400W Metal Halide: $40 × 3 cycles = $120
  • 150W LED: $0
• Ballast Replacement Costs
  • 400W Metal Halide: $80 × 1 cycle = $80
  • 150W LED: $0
• Labor and Equipment Costs
  • 400W Metal Halide: $150 × 3 service calls = $450
  • 150W LED: $0
• Total 10-Year Maintenance Cost
  • 400W Metal Halide: $650 per fixture
  • 150W LED: $0 per fixture

Result: Each 150W LED fixture saves approximately $650 in maintenance costs over 10 years, not including energy savings. For facilities with 20 fixtures, this represents over $13,000 in avoided maintenance expenses.

We used our 240 Watt UFO High Bay | 45600 Lumens fixtures to create exceptionally even and balanced lighting throughout this entire hangar space

Safety Certifications and Performance Standards

All our hangar fixtures carry essential safety and performance certifications that ensure reliable operation and often enable significant cost savings. UL Listed or ETL Listed certification guarantees electrical safety compliance, while DLC Premium qualification ensures performance standards and frequently enables utility rebates covering 30-50% of project costs.

Our fixtures feature IP65 wet location ratings for moisture resistance and IK08 impact resistance ratings, providing durability needed in demanding hangar environments where equipment movement and maintenance activities occur regularly.

Comprehensive 5-Year Warranty Protection

All fixtures include our standard 5-year warranty for complete confidence in your investment. We process all warranty claims directly from our United States offices, ensuring prompt resolution when service is needed. LED Lighting Supply's expertise ensures you receive responsive support throughout the entire warranty period.

Expert Consultation for Optimal Hangar Lighting Solutions

With numerous fixture options and specifications available, selecting the right solution for your specific hangar requirements can be challenging. Our Product Specialists understand the complexities of aircraft hangar lighting and bring over 15 years of experience to every project consultation.

We engineer solutions tailored to your exact needs, facility dimensions, and operational requirements. Our team can provide you with a complimentary photometric lighting plan to ensure optimal illumination levels and balanced light distribution throughout your hangar space. Contact our hangar lighting specialists today to discuss your project and receive expert recommendations for your specific application.

LED Aircraft Hangar Lighting FAQ

What is the Importance of Reflective Surfaces in an Aircraft Hangar?

Reflective surfaces redirect light to shadowed areas under aircraft wings and fuselage sections where direct overhead lighting can't reach. In my 17+ years of hangar installations, I've seen Type 3 and Type 5 optics combined with reflective ceiling materials improve coverage by 30-40%. You can also compensate by reducing fixture spacing from 20 feet to 15 feet on center.

How Can You Reduce Lighting Glare in a Hanger?

Install acrylic prismatic lenses or frosted polycarbonate covers on your LED high bays to eliminate harsh LED dot patterns. Ribbed optic systems control side glare while maintaining downward light output. For hangars over 30 feet high, 60-degree beam angles work better than narrow 90-degree optics to minimize direct glare at eye level.

Is Using More Higher Power Fixtures to Reduce Quantity of Lights a Good Idea in an Aircraft Hangar?

Higher wattage fixtures create hot spots and shadows between mounting points, which fails FAA maintenance lighting recommendations. Balanced light distribution matters more than raw footcandle numbers. I always run photometric layouts first because uniformity ratios above 4:1 create safety issues during inspections. Proper spacing with moderate wattage delivers better results than fewer high-power units.

Are There Impact-Proof LED Light Fixtures for an Aircraft Hanger?

UFO-style fixtures handle impacts better than linear high bays due to their compact, dome-shaped housings. Our IK08-rated UFO fixtures withstand 5-joule impacts from tools or equipment. The die-cast aluminum construction and impact-resistant polycarbonate lenses protect against accidental contact during aircraft movements.

What is the Best Way to Mount Lights in an Aircraft Hanger?

Chain mounting works best for hangars with overhead cranes since it allows fixture movement without damage. We provide aircraft cable suspension kits, heavy-duty eye hooks, and adjustable pendant mounts from 6 inches to 10 feet. Rigid conduit mounting works for fixed installations where cranes won't interfere with lighting placement.

Are there Certifications for Airplane Hanger Lights?

Aircraft hangars don't require special lighting certifications, but maintenance areas need adequate illumination per FAA guidelines. All our hangar fixtures carry UL or ETL safety listings for wet locations. Many also earn DLC Premium certification for maximum energy efficiency and utility rebate eligibility, delivering verified photometric performance.

What Are the Most Popular LED Aircraft Hanger Lighting?

UFO LED high bays dominate hangar installations due to their durability and light distribution. 160-watt and 200-watt models replace 400W metal halide fixtures while our 300-watt UFO units handle 1000W metal halide replacements. These deliver 50,000+ hour lifespans with 0-10V dimming capability for energy management.