LED Lighting Expanding Exterior Applications

Better durability, cost, weight savings, power consumption and color quality support the business case for upgrading aircraft with LED lighting. When Boeing introduced the 787, it not only was the first all-composite commercial jet but also the industry pace-setter in another respect—a cabin interior that was totally illuminated by LED (light-emitting diode) lighting. “Boeing’s Dreamliner was the first passenger aircraft cabin fully equipped with LED, and today, basically all passenger aircraft cabins are equipped with all-LED systems,” says Marc Renz, head of business development at Diehl Aerospace, a major supplier of LED interior lighting for commercial airliners.