Naples Airport Pioneers $25.4M Hurricane-Resilient Lighting System
Naples Airport (KAPF) in Florida has embarked on a groundbreaking $25.4 million project. The goal is to become the first coastal airport in the southern United States to install elevated runway and taxiway lighting systems. These systems are designed to withstand hurricane storm surge flooding.
The Airfield Lighting Rehabilitation and Electrical Vault Replacement Project will install 1,080 elevated LED edge lights. These lights will be positioned 20 inches above ground level along the airport’s runways and taxiways. The watertight lights are designed to protect critical operations during flooding events. Additionally, the electrical vault will be reconstructed five feet higher than its current elevation.
This initiative was triggered by Hurricane Ian in 2022. The storm surge destroyed airfield lighting and navigational aids, and came perilously close to flooding the airport’s lighting vault. Such a breach could have halted nighttime operations for weeks or even months. “After a natural disaster, Naples Airport serves as a base for rescue operations and humanitarian missions. Therefore, it’s imperative that the airfield reopens as quickly as possible,” said Chris Rozansky, executive director of the Naples Airport Authority.
While elevated lighting is common at northern airports to combat snowstorm visibility issues, this represents a novel application for flood protection at coastal facilities. The FAA worked closely with Naples Airport on the design and plans to update national design standards as a result. The 20-month project is funded through:
- Insurance proceeds
- Federal infrastructure grants
- State resilience programs
Notably, no local taxpayer dollars are involved in this project.
Source: https://generalaviationnews.com/2026/05/14/naples-airport-kapf-storm-resilient-lighting/