- Aeronautical Light Beacons
- An aeronautical light beacon is a visual NAVAID displaying flashes of white and/or colored light to indicate the location of an airport, a heliport, a landmark, a certain point of a Federal airway in mountainous terrain, or an obstruction. The light used may be a rotating beacon or one or more flashing lights. The flashing lights may be supplemented by steady burning lights of lesser intensity.
- The color or color combination displayed by a particular beacon and/or its auxiliary lights tell whether the beacon is indicating a landing place, landmark, point of the Federal airways, or an obstruction. Coded flashes of the auxiliary lights, if employed, further identify the beacon site.
- Code Beacons and Course Lights
- Code Beacons. The code beacon, which can be seen from all directions, is used to identify airports and landmarks. The code beacon flashes the three or four character airport identifier in International Morse Code six to eight times per minute. Green flashes are displayed for land airports while yellow flashes indicate water airports.
- Course Lights. The course light, which can be seen clearly from only one direction, is used only with rotating beacons of the Federal Airway System: two course lights, back to back, direct coded flashing beams of light in either direction along the course of airway.
NOTE-
Airway beacons are remnants of the “lighted” airways which antedated the present electronically equipped federal airways system. Only a few of these beacons exist today to mark airway segments in remote mountain areas. Flashes in Morse code identify the beacon site.
See AlsoInoperative Anticollision Lights
- Obstruction Lights
- Obstructions are marked/lighted to warn airmen of their presence during daytime and nighttime conditions. They may be marked/lighted in any of the following combinations:
- Aviation Red Obstruction Lights. Flashing aviation red beacons (20 to 40 flashes per minute) and steady burning aviation red lights during nighttime operation. Aviation orange and white paint is used for daytime marking.
- Medium Intensity Flashing White Obstruction Lights. Medium intensity flashing white obstruction lights may be used during daytime and twilight with automatically selected reduced intensity for nighttime operation. When this system is used on structures 500 feet (153m) AGL or less in height, other methods of marking and lighting the structure may be omitted. Aviation orange and white paint is always required for daytime marking on structures exceeding 500 feet (153m) AGL. This system is not normally installed on structures less than 200 feet (61m) AGL.
- High Intensity White Obstruction Lights. Flashing high intensity white lights during daytime with reduced intensity for twilight and nighttime operation. When this type system is used, the marking of structures with red obstruction lights and aviation orange and white paint may be omitted.
- Dual Lighting. A combination of flashing aviation red beacons and steady burning aviation red lights for nighttime operation and flashing high intensity white lights for daytime operation. Aviation orange and white paint may be omitted.
- Catenary Lighting. Lighted markers are available for increased night conspicuity of high-voltage (69KV or higher) transmission line catenary wires. Lighted markers provide conspicuity both day and night.
- Medium intensity omnidirectional flashing white lighting system provides conspicuity both day and night on catenary support structures. The unique sequential/simultaneous flashing light system alerts pilots of the associated catenary wires.
- High intensity flashing white lights are being used to identify some supporting structures of overhead transmission lines located across rivers, chasms, gorges, etc. These lights flash in a middle, top, lower light sequence at approximately 60 flashes per minute. The top light is normally installed near the top of the supporting structure, while the lower light indicates the approximate lower portion of the wire span. The lights are beamed towards the companion structure and identify the area of the wire span.
- High intensity flashing white lights are also employed to identify tall structures, such as chimneys and towers, as obstructions to air navigation. The lights provide a 360 degree coverage about the structure at 40 flashes per minute and consist of from one to seven levels of lights depending upon the height of the structure. Where more than one level is used the vertical banks flash simultaneously.
- Obstructions are marked/lighted to warn airmen of their presence during daytime and nighttime conditions. They may be marked/lighted in any of the following combinations:
- LED Lighting Systems
Certain light-emitting diode (LED) lighting systems fall outside the combined visible and near-infrared spectrum of night vision goggles (NVGs) and thus will not be visible to a flightcrew using NVGs.
The FAA changed specifications for LED-based red obstruction lights to make them visible to pilots using certain NVG systems, however, other colors may not be visible.
It is recommended that air carriers/operators—including Part 91 operators—who use NVGs incorporate procedures into manuals and/or standard operating procedures (SOPs) requiring periodic, unaided scanning when operating at low altitudes and when performing a reconnaissance of landing areas.
FAQs
What are the requirements for obstruction lights in aviation? ›
The FAA requires aircraft warning lights on temporary and permanent structures above 200 ft. (61 m) to prevent accidents. The type of light will depend on the height and category of the building. If the structure is on a flight path or near an aerodrome, that is also a factor.
What is the air obstruction warning light? ›Obstruction lights or aircraft warning lights are used to enhance the visibility of high-rise buildings, towers, wind turbines, telecom installations and bridges making them visible to low flying aircraft.
What are the FAA requirements for lighting? ›According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), all structures exceeding 200 feet above ground level (AGL) must be appropriately marked with tower lights or tower paint.
What is the obstacle lighting in aviation? ›Aviation obstruction lighting is used to enhance the visibility of structures or fixed obstacles which may conflict with the safe navigation of aircraft. Obstruction lighting is commonly installed on towers, buildings, and even fences located in areas where aircraft may be operating at low altitudes.
What are the rules for navigation lights on planes? ›In civil aviation, pilots must keep navigation lights on from sunset to sunrise, even after engine shutdown when at the gate. High-intensity white strobe lights are part of the anti-collision light system, as well as the red flashing beacon.
Are navigation lights required for flight? ›Navigation lights have to be turned on between sunset and sunrise during all operations (on the ground and in the air). You should also use them in bad weather (during the day). Seaplanes should use maritime rules when operating on the surface of water (they are similar to aviation rules in terms of lighting).
What is the minimum height for aircraft warning lights? ›In general any temporary or permanent structure, including all appurtenances, that exceeds an overall height of 200 feet (61m) above ground level (AGL), or exceeds any obstruction standard contained in 14 CFR Part 77, should normally be marked and/or lighted.
How do you detect airflow obstruction? ›Symptoms of an airway obstruction can vary depending on how severe the blockage is, including:
- Violent coughing.
- Struggling to breathe.
- Turning blue.
- Choking.
- Gagging.
- Vomiting.
- Wheezing.
Mar 4, 2024
Per International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) obstacle light requirements, all structures exceeding 45 meters above ground level (AGL) must be appropriately marked with aviation warning lights or paint.
What is the FAA 7 8 rule? ›The widest structure, appurtenance, lightning rod, or antenna that can be placed in front of an obstruction light (excluding the L-810 light) without significantly blocking the obstruction light's visibility should be no wider than 7/8 of an inch.
Which lights are mandatory for the aircraft? ›
In addition to the red, green, and white position lights (red to port, green to starboard, and white astern), regulations require one anticollision light for aircraft flying at night. This can be either white or red, and may be either a mechanically rotating beacon or a flashing strobe.
Where would you find the requirements for aircraft lighting? ›14 CFR § 91.209 - Aircraft lights.
- (a) During the period from sunset to sunrise (or, in Alaska, during the period a prominent unlighted object cannot be seen from a distance of 3 statute miles or the sun is more than 6 degrees below the horizon)—
- (1) Operate an aircraft unless it has lighted position lights;
The position lights of the aircraft, also called navigation or nav lights, are used by other aircraft to determine your position and direction relative to them. At night, these lights quickly identify collision risks and who has the right of way.
Why are red lights on top of buildings? ›There are red lights on the top of the building so that a pilot flying an airplane can notice them and a collision between airplane and building can be avoided. For this, we use red-colored light. We know in the atmosphere scattering of light occurs because of the collision between particles and rays of light.
What are the red and white flashing lights on aircraft? ›Anti-collision or beacon lights are a red or white flashing lights on the top or on the bottom of the aircraft. This light is omnidirectional and plays another major role in preventing collisions.
What are the minimum lighting requirements at an aerodrome? ›Any area of land that is to be used as an aerodrome at night shall have fixed (steady) white lights to mark the runway, and fixed red lights to mark unserviceable (hazardous) areas. Retroreflective markers may be substituted for lights to mark the runway at aerodromes, provided alignment lights are installed.
What lights are you required to have illuminated on your aircraft at night? ›The approved aircraft lights for night operations are a green light on the right cabin side or wingtip, a red light on the left cabin side or wingtip, and a white position light on the tail. In addition, flashing aviation red or white anticollision lights are required for night flights.