Thursday 25 April 2013

FAA Obstruction Lights Are Required

By Cherry Mercer


The concept behind FAA obstruction lights is very simple. Anything that is high enough for a flying vehicle, such as an airplane, to hit while in flight needs to be lit up or somehow marked for the pilot to be able to see and avoid the object. It is a matter of keeping not only the airplane and its passengers safe, but the public as well.

Take for example the big orange balls that are usually located on telephone or electric wires. They exist so that pilots can see the wires. In some cases construction crews, instead of adding extra material will just paint an object already on the tower a certain color to act as a viewable obstruction. This is not always allowed however.

Various companies exist to help any construction project move forward with these regulations. Many, if not all of these companies have years of experience in not only adding these lights and other materials to various buildings, towers, and signs, but also in dealing with the FAA and the required paperwork. Just like anything else that is done in our world today, paperwork is going to be needed.

In many ways, if you are not sure what needs to be done in your area the easiest way to learn what needs to be done is to contact one of these companies and see what they can do to help. Again, their experience in these matters can sometimes be undeniable. As a matter of fact, these requirements many times go beyond just putting lights on a tower of a certain height.

These markings are required and necessary. It makes it much easier for pilots to not only judge distances but also their altitude. There are various cues that a pilot can use from the world around them to help navigate and fly their aircraft, these lights, markings, and big plastic bubbles can often times make the difference.

One thing to consider as well that most people tend to forget is a contingency plan. For example, the steps that will be taken should the lighting fail. The FAA will need to know that the planned construction will be safe for planes no matter what the conditions.

In many ways this can come down to what exactly is being constructed. If the project is going to involve a tower for example that will be erected on flat land where nothing else exists and normal air traffic is common, it makes sense that some sort of lighting will be necessary for the tower to be seen by pilots.

These are the types of relationships that not only make for growing business but for safe communities as well. I for one am glad that FAA obstruction lights are a regulation and that they are upheld by local officials. The more aircraft that we keep in the air, the better.




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