Saturday, 19 October 2013

Promote Safety With LED Obstruction Lights

By Elena McDowell


Pilots of aircraft must be able to see any obstacles that are within their flight path. It is therefore very important for safety reasons to have warning devices that are clearly seen no matter what the weather is like. It must be able to give adequate warning of obstacles that may block airways or ground paths. These obstacles would be tall buildings, communication towers, smoke stacks, or other structures that are tall. They are also used to line the airport runways to give the pilots a clear outline of the path. The best way to provide such early warning signals would be through the use of LED obstruction lights.

These systems make pilots aware of the presence of obstacles as well as their height. There are regulations set by the FAA for adequate warning systems to be installed on any tall structure. They are to be clearly visible and must be able to warn pilots no matter what the weather is or time of day. The regulations set by the FAA also detail how the illuminating systems are to be installed to allow for high visibility.

The devices used for such cautionary applications vary in brightness and color. All regulations governing the use of such systems are clearly detailed. The differences in intensity and color are to allow for maximum visibility regardless of weather conditions or time of day. Red is generally used for night visibility while white and orange is used for day.

This equipment is constantly exposed to adverse weather and other natural factors. As such, they should be made with strong materials that can ensure durability and withstand all the punishment. There are systems that are made from metals and glass while others use advanced acrylics and plastics. They are both made to endure and resist the rigors of continuous exposure.

These systems are constantly operating. They are left on 24/7. It is therefore also vital that they do not consume large amounts of power. These new systems are very stingy with power in comparison to more traditional lighting systems. They consume only about 4% of what incandescent systems use. This makes their constant operation cheaper than the traditional systems.

To further make the system more energy efficient, some manufacturers offer solar powered systems. This allows for less energy consumption and thus less operational costs. This makes them a good option to save on money and power.

There are models that are flashing aside from those that are steady. Flashing lights increase their visibility. Both steady and flashing lights are used together based on installation rules set by the FAA.

LED obstruction lights are the best way to provide early warning to aircraft of the presence of obstacles in the flight path. They are a good safety measure that ensures visibility and early warning. They are energy efficient and thus are cheaper to operate than other lighting systems. These warning systems are mandated by rules and regulations set by the FAA and should thus be strictly adhered to. Manufacturers are aware of these regulations and they can recommend a total system according to your needs.




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