Basics About FAA Obstruction Lights

By Marcia Marks


FAA obstruction lights come in many forms such as aircraft warning light and beacons. The lights are essential since they alert pilots of soaring structures, which occupy airspace to avoid crashing. The structures include cranes, bridges, towers, buildings, and antennas. FAA and ICAO are examples of groups whose duty is to set standards of obstruction lights.

ICAO and FAA offer guidance on placement and selection of obstruction lighting accessories. They set standards for the accessories such as Night Vision Imaging Systems abbreviated as NVIS and Night Vision Goggles shortened as NVGs. It is advised that before buying any accessory all buyers should ensure that the goods meet the current FAA and ICAO standards. Buyers are advised to always insist on genuine or original accessories as they avoid counterfeits.

Aircraft warning illumination make all soaring structures noticeable to pilots and are usually utilized at night even though they can be utilized during daytime. The lamps have to be sufficiently bright to be visible while far. The lamps are normally in two common shades red and white xenon. The lights either flicker at predetermined intervals or are always on. The lamps where initially applied interchangeably but the recent regulations dictate that red lamps be used exclusively at night.

Red lamps are easily noticed by pilots in contrary to white xenon lights. There are many modes of obstruction lamps such as low, high, and medium intensity lamps. Medium intensity pasty lights are placed on each structure beyond 200 feet to a maximum of 500 feet. It is mandatory that if medium pasty lamps are placed on structures exceeding 500 feet then the structure has to be painted.

High intensity pasty xenon flashers are placed on structures exceeding 500 feet. They provide better visibility at daytime and night. High intensity pasty flashers flicker 40 times per minute and at varying intensities. The intensity reduces as nightfall approaches. They flashing intensity during daytime and at sunset is 270000 and 20000 candelas respectively. At night the intensity decreases to two thousand candelas.

Progress in lighting technology has seen the discovery of led obstruction lamps. The current types are electricity saving and are suitable nearly everywhere within the world. The led obstruction lamps are a perfect replacement for incandescent bulbs. They are durable, free of maintenance, and reliable. They come in a broader scope consisting of flashers, photocells, and relays to satisfy the varying needs.

Beacons and warning illuminations have limitations. They form part of light pollution as well as killing birds. White flashers usually merge with domestic lighting systems in the neighborhood thus confusing pilots. The confusion they create plays a great role in airplane accidents at nighttime. White strobes are very expensive to maintain because they require frequent repainting that come at an additional cost.

FAA obstruction lights are part of safety measures that owners of all tall buildings must adhere to in order to prevent accidents. These pieces of equipment are manufactured by several companies. Every company attempts to modify its accessories in order to distinguish themselves. It might not be easy for buyers to choose which brand to buy and this is when the internet becomes important. All the required information is available on their websites over the internet.




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