Helicopter messenger cable illumination

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a helicopter having a floor and including a RAST system;

the RAST system comprising a messenger cable with a connector attached to one end for lowering to a landing deck of a ship, the RAST system further comprising a winch for raising and lowering the messenger cable, a housing attached to the floor of the helicopter through which the messenger cable is raised and lowered, a top of the housing including an opening through which the messenger cable passes, a sheave attached to the top of the housing and over which the messenger cable passes and a pulley attached to the housing and over which the messenger cable passes;

a luminescent cover attached to a portion of the messenger cable adjacent the connector;

a light mounted on the top of the housing for charging the luminescent cover, and a limit switch mounted on top of the housing for stopping upward motion of the messenger cable.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a bracket attached to the top of the housing wherein the light is mounted inside the bracket.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the sheave is mounted to the bracket.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a push and pull pin for mounting the sheave to the bracket.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the light comprises a halogen lamp.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a reflector around the halogen lamp.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the bracket comprises a top surface, two side surfaces and a rear surface.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the halogen lamp and reflector are mounted to an underside of the top surface of the bracket.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the rear surface of the bracket includes an opening formed therein for receiving the limit switch.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein each side surface includes an opening formed therein for receiving the push and pull pin.