Fundamentals About FAA Obstruction Lights

By Marcia Marks


FAA obstruction lights are found in various forms such as beacons and aircraft warning light. These lights are very important because they warn pilots of all tall structures that occupy airspace to avoid collision. The structures include antennas, bridges, buildings, towers, and cranes. ICAO and FAA are some of the organizations that are charged with the responsibility of setting standards of obstruction lights.

FAA and ICAO provide help on selection and installation of obstruction lighting accessories. They set standards that obstruction light must meet like Night Vision Goggles abbreviated as NVGs and Night Vision Imaging Systems shortened as NVIS. It is recommended that before purchasing any accessory buyers must make sure that the products meet the existing ICAO and FAA rules and standards. Consumers are advised to insist on original or genuine accessories and refuse counterfeits.

Aircraft warning illumination make structures visible to pilots and are normally used at night though they still can be used in daytime. The illuminations are supposed to be of adequate brightness to be visible from far. The lights are normally in two colors white xenon and red. The white xenon and red lamps are either constantly lit or flash at regular intervals. The lights were initially used interchangeably but the new rules demand that red lamps be used 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 white xenon flashers are installed on structures above 500 feet. They offer high visibility both at nighttime and day. High intensity flashers flash forty times per minute at different intensities. The intensity decreases as nightfall approaches. They flickering intensity at sunset is 20000 candelas and 270000 candelas at daytime. The intensity decreases to 2000 candelas during nighttime.

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 very important part of safety observance, which owners of soaring structures have to follow to prevent accidents. The lamps are made by many companies. Each firm attempts to vary its products so as to make a distinction of themselves. It is not easy for buyers to select from the various brands when shopping for these products and that is when the internet becomes useful. All the necessary details are available over their blogs on the internet.




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