Aviation Warning Beacon, An Aviation Necessity

By Virginia Morris


People think that all there is to flying a plane is taking off and landing. You tend to ignore the operations behind it that makes you safe as a passenger whether you are in a commercial flight or not. Understandably, you would be more concerned about reaching your destination, which is not an issue.

However, there is a bigger story involved in it, than just being able to maneuver the wheel, take off and land safely. This is why being one, is not for everybody. The adrenaline you get in fighting the elements of bad weather is unmatched as you work your way smoothly, oftentimes with the help of aviation warning beacon ahead.

They emit signals that can be used both at night and during the day. These produce flashes that are detected by other pilots and even travelers, especially when the plane is on low visibility conditions. By U. S civil regulation, they are built around tall structures to prevent aircraft catastrophes.

These also includes towers, bridges and canes as identified by the FAA and CIAO. Visible to any passing aircraft, these devices serves best during the night. That is when the plane is most likely to be on low visibility conditions. It does not mean that the beacons cannot be used during the day.

When the strobes are illuminating or bright, these produces warnings that would alert not just the pilot but the passengers as well that a building is near. To avoid an obstruction, you then would make it an opportunity to control the craft. Usually, they come in the color red, but these days, they are available from the manufacturer in yellow, amber, green and also blue.

However, this is not something that an ordinary passenger should worry himself with. Even the pilot can pass. The building owners are the ones required by law in making sure that they comply with the standards set by the civil authorities for installing these devices. While that may be true, the industry of aviation should also set their own guidelines properly, so everyone can follow them.

Natural structures are not the only ones that put risk to the aviation industry. There are other buildings that needs to be marked for efficiency and to lessen the possibility of an obstruction. Typically, both beacon and strobe needs to be fitted so they pass the correct signals at night and during the day. The wrong message may end up in some sort of accident when worse comes to worse.

The lights now come in many colors, as the demand for them grew bigger, depending on how they should be coded for navigation. Red however, is the most commonly used when it comes to warning an aircraft from a hazard. Their bulbs should be about eight inches long and at six hundred twenty in wattage.

Installation should be left with the experts as they are the ones familiar with the codes and regulations. This is not something you can do a trial and error with as it involves lives. Being up in the sky gives anybody unbridled freedom. But never more than knowing they are safe out there, especially with the dark of the night.




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