A runway, taxiway or obstruction fighting system having at least one side
emitting LED mounted on a base. A cover is optically coupled to the side
emitting LED to direct fight at a desired angle from a horizontal plane
extending from the base. The cover is manufactured to have the highest
transmissivity when used with a monochromatic LED light source. The color
of the material is tuned to the wavelength of the LED light source to
obtain the maximum light output. A heater circuit is included in the
lighting system wired in series with the side emitting LED. A constant
current source is employed to supply power to the side emitting LED and
heater circuit so that operation of the heater circuit does not affect
the intensity of the light from the side emitting LED.