Fundamentals 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 light is easily spotted by pilots from above as opposed to white xenon strobes. There are many types of obstruction lights including high intensity, low intensity, and medium intensity lamps. Medium intensity white flashers are applied on all structures between 200 to 500 feet. It is required that if medium white flashers are applied on structures that are above 500 feet then the structures have to be painted.

High intensity white flashers are applied on structures more than 500 feet. They provide high visibility both night and day. High intensity strobes flash forty times within a minute at varying intensities. The intensity reduces as darkness approaches. They flash at an intensity of 270000 candelas during daytime and 20000 candelas at sunset. The intensity reduces to 2000 candelas at night.

Advancement in lighting technology has led to introduction of led obstruction light. The latest versions are energy efficient and are designed to fit almost everywhere around the globe. Led obstruction lights are a good substitute for incandescent bulbs. They are durable, reliable and free of maintenance. They come in a wide range, which comprise of relays, flashers, and photocells in order to meet different 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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1 comment:

  1. thanks for sharing this post.
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