Monday, December 16, 2013

Obstruction Lighting Is A Major Element Of Reducing Aviation Accidents

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By Cornelia White


Aviation obstruction lighting originally appeared on prominent structures of many different types in the 1930s. A result of the advancement of ongoing night time flights, it quickly came to be a complete essential. In an endeavor to guard ground personnel, the lives of pilots and essential equipment, cautioning programs were applied. Consequently, effective methods, strict rules and enforcement regulations will proceed to be introduced to assure the basic safety of anyone concerned.

In essence, obstruction lighting simply consists of warning lights to prevent collisions between aircraft and a variety of objects on the ground. For example, radio, television and cell phone towers are made to be more visible through the use of devices that emit high-intensity light. While these lighting systems are most notable when used at night, they are also used on many tall structures during the daytime as well.

While individuals on the land might generally not give it so much consideration, there are genuinely a wide variety of hazardous items that aviators must grapple with, each and every day. Aside from communications towers, there are endless other objects that need to be sidestepped which include wind turbines, overly tall buildings and industrial chimney smokestacks. Even certain shorter structures will need lights when very near to airfields in which aircraft fly low.

Numerous procedures for practices are introduced by the International Civil Aviation Organization. By and large, their guidelines are accepted globally. With a program of logical regulations, it is less difficult to protect public safety, prevent dangerous collisions and enforce compliance. By working with the same sets of operations internationally, misunderstandings are significantly decreased.

For many years, various unique light systems have been developed. The style of system used can vary extensively, based on each individual application. Some obstacles may simply require one solitary beacon lamp. It usually is appropriate for bigger hazards to be fitted with several lights positioned in specific layouts. Quite often, a pilot can determine the specific type, along with the height, of a potentially hazardous object.

These warning beacon systems can be powered by a wide variety of light sources. In recent years, LED technology has been applied extensively throughout the aviation warning field. However, some arrangements still rely on lamps such as common incandescent, metal halide or high pressure sodium. In any case, they are all specially designed to ensure adequate longevity, sufficient reliability and high intensity.

In most cases, these beacons are chiefly red or white. The hue is ordinarily dictated by a mix of factors that could involve particular location, overall height and structure type. A white colored light may not be advisable in certain urban regions, because it could blend in with business oriented and domestic backgrounds. Still, they are very often used far and wide in many rural locations.

It is a requirement for tall structures to have obstruction lighting that complies to standard regulations. The standards are necessary to ensure safe flying conditions, ease of navigation and basic public safety. The systems are absolutely critical in preventing severe property damage, potential life threatening injuries and heavy economic losses.




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