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The Scoop on Tower Lighting’s Latest Regulation - Infrared
Megan Stockton • Nov 08, 2018
Important info on a recent change to FAA Advisory Circular...
UPDATED: NOVEMBER 27, 2018
Legacy Red Obstruction Lighting
Background:
Federal regulations for obstruction marking and lighting are governed by the applicable FAA Advisory Circulars, including the most recent, 70/7460-1L. A new FAA Obstruction Marking and Lighting Advisory Circular 70/7460-1L Change 2
which was issued on August 17, 2018. It appears that this change was deemed necessary to address the concern that certain red LED obstruction lighting systems fall outside the combined visible and near-infrared spectrum of Night Vision Goggles (NVGs) and ANVIS (Aviator’s Night Vision Imaging Systems) with a Class B filter. Pilots using ANVIS equipment that filter the adverse effects of cockpit lighting might not be able to see non-Infrared equipped red LED-based obstruction lighting. This type of night vision capability is becoming increasingly more common amongst civilian aircraft involved in search and rescue, emergency medical transport and other flight operations.
Please note that industry sources indicate that this is not yet a requirement and it is believed that the FAA will update the relevant engineering document AC 150/5345-43H: Specification for Obstruction Lighting Equipment thereby making the regulation effective. Also, it is understood that existing, non-IR LED lighting is grandfathered in under your current determination.
In this article we highlight key points of the updated circular.
Regulation change:
FAA Obstruction Marking and Lighting Advisory Circular 70/7460-1L Change 2
spells out a newly added paragraph detailing the regulation as follows:
“Note: In response to a Safety Risk Assessment of LED Lighting in Aircraft Operations, the FAA has established IR specifications for LED-based red obstruction lights. Specifications are contained in Airport Engineering Brief 98, Infrared Specifications for Aviation Obstruction Light Compatibility with Night Vision Goggles (NVGs), published December 18, 2017, and AC 150/5345-43H, Specification for Obstruction Lighting Equipment, dated September 28, 2016.”
This newly added paragraph cross-references an associated Engineering Brief: Airport Engineering Brief 98
which provides information about the interaction of LEDs used in obstruction lighting fixtures with Night Vision Goggles. There are several key takeaways:
- IR (infrared) LEDS should have the same beam pattern as the red visible LEDs as defined in AC 150/5345-43.
- IR LEDs should mimic the same pulse and duration as the red visible light to prevent pilots from experiencing a visual disparity when looking through and under the NVG.
- Failure of the IR LEDs is considered a fail status and a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) is required.
Conclusion:
The new Advisory Circular specifies that infrared (IR) LEDs will be required in the L-864, L-885 and L-810 fixtures to make the lighting systems more visible to Night Vision Goggles (NVGs) and Aviator’s Night Vision Imaging Systems (ANVIS) and must include IR emitters or be used in conjunction with a standalone IR emitter.
Industry sources indicate that this is not yet a requirement and it is believed that the FAA will update the relevant engineering document AC 150/5345-43H: Specification for Obstruction Lighting Equipment
thereby making the regulation effective. Also, it is understood that existing, non-IR LED lighting is grandfathered in under your current determination.
More Information on LumenServe’s Portal:
LumenServe’s℠ FAA Regulations Portal
contains all the important links to Federal obstruction lighting regulations for your towers including:
- Full color Lighting System Illustrations for each of the most common FAA tower styles.
- Links to helpful FCC/FAA tower related sites.
- All the links to the current and previous FAA Advisory Circulars which govern obstruction lighting (AC 70/7460) Change 2.
- Request an FAA Tower Lighting Compliance Illustration – the industry’s best illustration to help simplified tower lighting compliance.
We hope our article on IR light standards is helpful. Remember that LumenServe℠ can help you analyze the costs and benefits of all your options for compliance. Also, do not forget, as the nation’s first Tower Lighting as a Service® company, LumenServe℠ can provide qualified customers with an IR compliant lighting solution that requires no-upfront costs.
For more information, please contact LumenServe℠ at:
Tower owners with FAA Style A marking, which includes painted towers with red obstruction lighting at night, should be aware that there are cost-saving options to consider when it comes to periodic painting required for compliance. Here at LumenServe ℠ , our Never Paint Your Tower A gain program eliminates the need to repaint your tower for obstruction lighting purposes. First, let us clarify some background information. Painting of the structure: FAA Style A towers are painted to ensure visibility for air navigation, with specific requirements for painting the structure. The most important requirement is that the paint must meet the FAA's Aviation Orange color standard, which is Federal Standard 595 color #17875 for white and color #12197 for aviation orange. Additionally, the number of bands required on the tower depends on its height. You can visit our website for helpful information on each FAA Tower Style. Cost of painting of the structure: When evaluating the cost of painting a structure, there are five primary cost drivers: Material cost of paint – Paint costs approximately $70 per gallon with each gallon covering roughly 400 sq. ft. Tower type – There are three primary tower types - Guyed, Self-Supported, or Monopole. Each tower type is unique and requires a different amount of labor to complete depending on total surface area and other factors. Height of tower – As one would expect, the height of the tower is directly proportional to the amount of labor required to do the painting. Tower location – Tower crews charge to mobilize to the site. The more difficult it is to get to the location, the more the tower crew will charge to get there. Tower crew labor cost – The labor cost to paint your tower is typically based on the hours of work required for the project. Typically, labor will range from $25 per tower foot to $80 per tower foot depending on tower type, height, and location. Annual paint test:
In the world of tower maintenance, costs can soar to new heights, especially when it comes to climbs. Picture this: a typical climb on a 325’ tower can set you back a staggering $2,500 each time – a price that quickly accumulates with multiple climbs over the life of your lighting system. Now, what if we told you that there's a smarter, more cost-effective way to safeguard your tower's lighting without breaking the bank? Enter our fully comprehensive Assurance Warranty Service , an unbeatable solution that not only saves you money but offers peace of mind like never before. With an annual cost that is less than ½ of the cost a single tower climb referenced above, you'll receive not only all the tower climbs necessary to support your lighting system, but a level of support that covers everything from diagnostics to repairs, equipment replacements, mobilization and more. Our Assurance Warranty Service is only available with newly purchased and installed systems through LumenServe or through our Tower Lighting as a Service ® solution. Our Assurance Warranty Service is designed to be a game-changer in tower lighting maintenance. It covers the full array of services need to keep your system operational and in full compliance including: Problem diagnosis Remote troubleshooting Equipment replacement Site mobilization and expenses Repair labor on the ground Tower climb labor Shipping and transport RMA (Return Merchandise Authorization) Firmware upgrades All associated expenses In essence, it's your one-stop solution for ensuring the proper operation of your tower lighting system. Here are some more details on our Assurance Warranty Service . The math is simple: when you opt for the LumenServe℠ solutions that includes our Assurance Warranty, you're not just saving money; you're investing in long-term reliability and peace of mind. Say goodbye to the anxiety of unpredictable costs associated with tower climbs and embrace a more cost-effective and comprehensive approach to tower lighting maintenance. Join us on a journey where you can "Scale Heights, Not Costs," and let your tower shine brighter than ever before. For more information, please contact LumenServe℠ today!
Attention all tower owners! Keeping up with the Federally required lighting compliance regulations for your towers is a vital responsibility, but it doesn't have to be a burden. At LumenServe℠, we offer a comprehensive program to take the hassle of compliance and monitoring off your plate.
Virtually all lighting system original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) provide a warranty on their product, but what are you really getting with that warranty? With the Tower Lighting as a Service® approach from LumenServe℠ you get an Assurance Warranty that covers more than the average product warranty – we provide an end-to-end solution with no hidden costs. This ensures you stay on budget while not having to worry about your tower lighting. Let’s look at what you are getting (or not getting) with your current lighting system OEM warranty and compare it to what LumenServe offers in our bumper-to-bumper solution. The LumenServe℠ Assurance Warranty LumenServe℠ offers Assurance Warranty solutions as part of our full range of services that ensure that there are no unexpected costs with repairing and maintaining your system. Our approach is all inclusive: on ground, above ground, equipment and materials, labor and mobilization. You get flat pricing for up to five years so there are no budget surprises! How Does Your Current Lighting System Warranty Compare?
Get 2019 pricing for the next five years. Really.
Let Us Help You Ensure FAA Compliance Keeping up with your towers’ federally mandated compliance and monitoring requirements is an expensive and time-consuming responsibility. Compliance is a must and requires you to constantly ensure that your towers adhere to the proper regulations with proper procedures and documentation. How would you like to never worry about this again… for zero upfront cost? LumenServe℠ is a full-service tower lighting company which means we take the burden of compliance and monitoring activities off your plate. Included with our unique Tower Lighting as a Service® program, is a full range of compliance services including: FAA Compliance & Reporting ● FAA NOTAM Reporting ● NOTAM Tracking and Resolution ● Lighting Circular Validation ● Notification of FAA Rule Updates such as: ○ 7/8 Inch Rule ○ IR LEDs ○ Aviation Lighting Regulations Monitoring ● Active Monitoring of Lighting ● 24/7/365 Monitoring ● Remote Diagnostics ● Daily Logs (2+ Years Storage) ● NOTAM Reporting to Customer ● Compliance Events On-site Tower Lighting Inspections ● Quarterly Lighting Inspections ● Biennial Lens Inspections ● Annual Paint Inspections at the top portion of the tower (Style A towers only) The new requirements related to Infrared Lighting (IR) are also an area we can help you with. Another option to learn more about is our Never Paint Your Tower Again where we assist you in changing your tower type from painted to dual mode. With Tower Lighting as a Service® . We will help you to update the FAA paperwork to make the change to dual mode, buy you a new lighting system, take care of it with our Assurance Warranty Service, and take care of the necessary compliance and monitoring. With our 24/7/365 Network Operations Centers and customer portal we can keep you informed of your tower’s overall system health status, alerts and alarm status maintenance and repair history. Your time is better spent on your core business and not on tower lighting. Let us use our size, scale, and expertise to free up your time to tend to your business and save you money too. To learn more about us and our services please contact LumenServe℠: (512) 580-4600 info@LumenServe.com
Not all warranties are the same…
FAA Required Biennial Lens Inspection
Keeping up with your towers’ federally mandated compliance and monitoring requirements is an expensive and time-consuming responsibility. Compliance is a must and requires you to constantly ensure that your towers adhere to the proper regulations with proper procedures and documentation. How would you like to never worry about this again… for zero upfront cost? LumenServe℠ is a full-service tower lighting company which means we take the burden of compliance and monitoring activities off your plate. Included with our unique Tower Lighting as a Service® program, is a full range of compliance services including: FAA Compliance & Reporting ● FAA NOTAM Reporting ● NOTAM Tracking and Resolution ● Lighting Circular Validation ● Notification of FAA Rule Updates such as: ○ 7/8 Inch Rule ○ IR LEDs ○ Aviation Lighting Regulations Monitoring ● Active Monitoring of Lighting - Polling Every 5 Minutes ● 24/7/365 Monitoring ● Remote Diagnostics ● Daily Logs (2+ Years Storage) ● NOTAM Reporting to Customer ● Compliance Events On-site Tower Lighting Inspections ● Quarterly Lighting Inspections ● Biennial Lens Inspections ● Annual Paint Inspections at the top portion of the tower (Style A towers only) We can also help you to Never Paint Your Tower Again by assisting you in changing your tower type from painted to dual mode. With Tower Lighting as a Service® . We will help you to update the FAA paperwork to make the change to dual mode, buy you a new lighting system, take care of it with our Assurance Warranty Service, and take care of the necessary compliance and monitoring. With our 24/7/365 Network Operations Centers and customer portal we can keep you informed of your tower’s overall system health status, alerts and alarm status maintenance and repair history. Your time is better spent on your core business and not on tower lighting. Let us use our size, scale, and expertise to free up your time to tend to your business and save you money too. To learn more about us and our services please contact LumenServe℠: (512) 580-4600 info@LumenServe.com
The Federal Aviation Administration has released a new Advisory Circular, AC 70/7460-1M , effective November 16, 2020, which details new rules and regulations for obstruction marking and tower lighting. Consequently, AC 70/7460-1L Change 2 was cancelled with the release of the new circular. Compared to Circular L-Change 2, most changes were minor and do not impact most tower owners, with the bulk of the changes involving new obstruction lighting rules for temporary structures like cranes. However, one change was implemented that does directly affect tower owners: the addition of new infrared specifications for red LED-based obstruction lights, which are now required for new LED lighting system installations. These new infrared specifications help ensure the safety of pilots operating with night vision goggles. Night vision goggles (NVGs) are increasingly being used by pilots to amplify visible light and ensure safety, and many NVGs have filters (notably a Class B filter) designed to reduce the adverse effects of cockpit lighting. These filters can make red LED obstruction lights completely invisible which presents a risk to pilot’s safety. Circular 1M requires that all new LED lighting system installations must feature LED lighting that is compliant with these requirements. Tower owners under older circulars are grandfathered in and do not need to meet these new specifications and can continue to use non-infrared LED lights. However, because there is a risk of a pilot misinterpreting a tower’s height, if a legacy (non-IR) specification, intermediate-level LED light is replaced with one that meets the new IR specifications, then the top-level light or lights must meet the new IR specification. This applies to all towers, even those governed under previous circulars. More information about the IR specifications can be found in our previous blog post . LumenServe℠ can help with your new build, lighting system upgrade or conversion, as our Tower Lighting as a Service® fully conforms to the new FAA standards (AC 70/7460-1M, AC 150/5345-43J and EB 98). Our OEM partner, Dialight, launched its first IR enabled LED product in 2011, almost a decade before FAA regulation cited above became mandatory.
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