Basics Concerning FAA Obstruction Lights

By Marcia Marks


FAA obstruction lights are available in various forms like aircraft warning lights and beacons. These lights are important as they alert pilots of every tall structure that occupies airspace to prevent crashing. The structures include bridges, antennas, cranes, towers, and buildings. FAA and ICAO are some of the groups charged with the duty of setting standards of obstruction lights.

FAA and ICAO offer help on installation and selection of all obstruction lighting accessories. They set standards that the accessories must comply with like NVGs and NVIS meaning Night Vision Imaging Systems. It is recommended that prior to buying accessories consumers should make sure that the lamps meet the present ICAO and FAA standards. Consumers are usually advised to ensure they buy original accessories and keep away from fakes.

Aircraft warning light make every tall structure noticeable to pilots and are usually used at night even though they may be utilized in daytime. The lamps should be bright enough to be seen while far. The lights are usually in two colors red and white xenon. The red and white xenon lamps are either always lit or flicker at regular intervals. The illuminations were at first applied interchangeably but the new regulations require that red lights be used at night.

Red light is easily seen by pilots unlike white xenon flashers. There are several modes of obstruction light such as medium intensity, low intensity, and high intensity lamps. Medium intensity white lamps are installed on every structure that is over 200 feet up to 500 feet. It is a must that if medium white lamps are used on structures over 500 feet then they must 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.

Development in lighting technology has resulted in invention of led obstruction light. The latest types are energy saving and are made to fit nearly everywhere around the world. The led lamps are a perfect substitute for incandescent lamps. They are free of maintenance, durable, and reliable. They are available in a wider scope, which consist of photocells, flashers, and relays so as to meet varied needs.

Warning light has its limitations. They are part of light pollution besides killing birds. White strobes usually merge with the domestic lighting system within the neighborhood hence confusing pilots. The mix up that they create contributes greatly to aircraft accidents at nighttime. White strobes are expensive to maintain since they need frequent repainting which comes 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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