Federal Compliance Is Not Optional
We’ve created a educational video series on our YouTube Channel to help tower owners understand FAA guidelines on their tower lights. This is a recap of the first in our series covering tower lighting compliance requirements.
Obstruction lighting is governed by strict federal regulations designed to protect aviation safety and reduce liability for tower owners. Failing to follow these rules can result in:
- Fines and enforcement actions
- NOTAMs
- Increased legal and insurance risk
- Aviation safety hazards
The Tower Lighting Compliance Checklist
1. Daily Lighting Monitoring
You must monitor your tower lighting every day.
If an outage is detected:
- File a NOTAM with the FAA within 30 minutes
- Record the event in your daily monitoring log
- Retain monitoring records for at least 2 years
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2. Quarterly On-Site Inspections
Required under 47 CFR §17.47, these inspections must occur at intervals not to exceed 3 months.
They verify:
- Beacon operation
- Power and controller logs
- Alarm and monitoring systems
- Photocell switching
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3. Biennial Lens Inspections (Every 24 Months)
FAA requires lenses to be visually inspected for:
- UV damage
- Cracks or crazing
- Dirt buildup
- Light output degradation
Damaged lenses must be cleaned or replaced.
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4. Paint Inspections for FAA Style A Towers
Painted towers must maintain visibility using:
- FAA In-Service Aviation Orange Tolerance Chart
- Sampling on the upper half of the structure
- Two separate sides
If faded beyond tolerance, the tower must be cleaned or repainted.
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5. Avian Protection Considerations
Tower owners must follow avian protection standards to minimize harm to birds and migratory species by:
- Reducing disorienting light patterns
- Using compliant light intensity and optics
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6. The 7/8 Rule: Light Obstruction Prevention
The 7/8 Rule addresses antenna or equipment obstructions that block tower lights.
You must ensure:
- Lights are not blocked by antennas
- No hardware, cabling, or mounts obscure light output
- No nesting or structural attachments interfere with visibility
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Stay Ahead of Compliance
This checklist represents the minimum standard for tower lighting compliance. Each item is essential to protecting aviation safety and your regulatory standing.
For deeper guidance on each requirement, explore our Tower Lighting Compliance Series to see how Tower Lighting as a Service removes risk, cost, and operational burden.
