Constant Current Regulator (CCR) & Airfield Lighting Control & Monitoring System / ALCMS (distributed/integrated by Vardhman Airport Solutions)
An integrated microprocessor-controlled series-circuit power supply and airport-wide lighting supervisory system — the CCR and ALCMS working together to maintain constant lamp current across all five brightness steps while giving ATC complete monitoring and switching authority over every airfield lighting circuit.
Airfield ground lighting operates on series circuits carrying a regulated constant current — not voltage — so that every lamp along a runway circuit receives identical power regardless of the number of lamps installed or whether individual lamps have failed open-circuit. The Constant Current Regulator (CCR) is the device that delivers this regulation, converting the variable grid supply into a precision constant AC output at selectable current steps (6.0, 6.6, 12, or 20 A corresponding to the five ICAO brightness steps). Vardhman's Micro Processor Controlled CCR uses a 16-bit DSP controller for high-speed closed-loop regulation, achieving power factors up to 0.95 and efficiencies of 90% or better. It communicates over RS-485 for integration with the ALCMS supervisory layer. Output ratings span 2.5–30 kVA, covering single runways up to complex multi-circuit Category III systems, with air-cooling (no fans) minimising moving parts and thus maintenance requirements. The VAS-ALCMS (Airfield Lighting Control and Monitoring System) sits above the CCR layer as a distributed, scalable SCADA-class platform connecting all CCRs, circuit selector switches, and field devices into a unified supervisory display. Touchscreen HMIs at the ATC position and electrical vaults allow operators to select brightness steps, switch individual circuits, and receive real-time lamp-failure alarms. All alarm and event data are logged to disk with configurable backup. The system has fail-safe logic — if network or power is lost, each device holds its last known state — preventing inadvertent circuit shutdown during a fault event. Integration with ground movement guidance systems and third-party airport systems is supported through open interface design. This CCR/ALCMS pairing is the regulatory baseline for all ICAO Annex 14 and FAA AC 150/5345-56 compliant airports. In high-ambient-temperature GCC environments, the thermal efficiency of the DSP-based CCR design and the air-cooled enclosure are directly relevant to vault room sizing and cooling load.
Technical specifications.
| Output ratings (380–415 V) | 2.5 to 30 kVA |
| Output ratings (210–240 V) | 2.5 to 15 kVA |
| Output currents available | 6.0, 6.6, 12, 20 A |
| Input voltage (single-phase) | 220–240 V |
| Input voltage (two-phase) | 380–440 V |
| Input frequency | 50 Hz |
| Power factor (≤10 kVA) | ≥0.90 |
| Power factor (≥12 kVA) | ≥0.95 |
| Efficiency | ≥90 % |
| Controller | 16-bit DSP |
| Communication | RS-485 |
| Cooling | Air-cooled, fan-free |
| CCR compliance | ICAO ADM 9157 Part 5 para 3.2, FAA AC 150/5345-10H, IS 12291-1987 |
| ALCMS compliance | ICAO Annex 14, ADM Part 5 para 3.4 & 3.7, FAA AC 150/5345-56B, IEC 61508 |
Use cases.
- ›Primary power regulation for runway edge, centreline, TDZ, approach, and taxiway series lighting circuits
- ›Centralised ALCMS supervisory control at ATC and vault positions for brightness step selection and fault monitoring
- ›Integration into CAT I, II, and III all-weather operations requiring precise circuit switching within FAA timing requirements
- ›Greenfield airport electrical system design where a single procurement covers CCR, ALCMS, and field integration
- ›Retrofit of ageing thyristor CCRs with high-efficiency DSP-based units at existing airports
Replacements & compatible alternatives.
Comparable Runway Lighting & Airfield Electrical from other suppliers. Cross-shop on specs — confirm exact fit and compatibility with the supplier before specifying.
