AN ULVERSTON firm is taking off as bright lights in business jets after landing a major order with a US commercial aircraft giant.

Oxley Group will provide all external lighting on new models of executive jets made by Gulfstream after three years of trials.

It is likely to mean around five years worth of work for the Priory Park company which employs 170 people in Cumbria and 30 in the US.

A spokeswoman said: "It’s a very significant contract financially and from a company development perspective as this is our first contract for a full set of external LED lights for a commercial aircraft."

Gulfstream, an American business with 15,000 staff globally, has over 50 years' experience in aviation.

Its new 'family' of business jets are called the G500 and G600, and are already interesting Qatar Airways.

The new LED lighting systems have been tailor-made for the new jets by Oxleys staff in Cumbria and at its Connecticut site.

It includes taxi lights, ground recognition lights and lights for the entry door and wing emergency lights, and service panel lighting, among others. Oxleys, based at Priory Park near Bardsea, hailed the new product as an 'LED lighting revolution for commercial aviation'.

The lights are said to 'outperform existing technology at every level' and to deliver 'improved reliability'.

Oxleys say traditional halogen aircraft lights fail after just over a day on average.

But tests have shown its 'mean time failure rate' takes 27,000 hours which is equivalent to 1125 days or nearly three years.

It means aircraft manufacturers will save money.

The total power consumption is just 115W compared to the average halogen technology power consumption of 450W – representing a reduction of more than 70 per cent, said the company.

It can also operate at temperatures of minus 55C and upto 70C.

The three-year development process involved design, prototyping, testing and manufacture.

It was completed by a dedicated project team of mechanical, optical and electronics engineers. The Oxley team also worked closely with the design and production departments at Gulfstream in Savannah, Georgia.

Oxyleys said: "This has created a strong working relationship between the two companies and the Oxley team is enthusiastic about working with Gulfstream on future projects."

Martin Blakstad, Oxley Group chief executive officer, explained: “Oxley has made a significant commitment in delivering the complete external lighting solution for the Gulfstream G500 and G600 jets - it has challenged our team to push the boundaries of their design, production and testing expertise. The suite of lights that has emerged from that process now sets the standard in LED lighting technology for the commercial aviation market.”