What is Aviation Obstruction Light? Types, Applications, Benefits

Do you work in the construction field or aviation industry, or manage tall buildings and towers? If yes, you would have heard a lot about the specific lights installed on high structures. Their role is very important in keeping airplanes safe.

Hence, you should understand the types of these lights and their specifications and requirements so you can use them. This will help you easily get reliable lights from the aviation obstruction lights market.

We are a professional Chinese manufacturer of traffic safety products. In today’s guide, our team has explained everything you must know about aviation obstruction lighting systems. We will also tell you the major applications of aviation lights, their price, and how you can choose the best aircraft warning lights according to your requirements.

What Are Aviation Obstruction Lights?

Aviation obstruction lights are special lights that you can put on top of tall structures such as buildings, towers, wind turbines & cranes. If a pilot is flying an airplane or helicopter, these lights will help them see tall objects from a long distance. Without these lights, pilots cannot see the tall structures clearly and could accidentally hit the plane with buildings.

But aviation obstruction lighting will prevent such accidents. The lights are usually red or white. It doesn’t matter if it is daytime, night or bad weather conditions. Aviation lights are active all the time and ensure the safety of people and airplanes.

3 Types of Aviation Obstruction Lights

Each category of aviation obstruction lights has a unique intensity level. We can say that it’s actually based on height level and structure. Here are three main ones.

Low Intensity Aviation Lights

Low intensity lights are small and not very bright. You can see them on short buildings, towers, chimneys, bridges or poles. These lights help pilots observe objects that are not too high (especially at night). Plus, they are only suitable if the structure is 147.6 feet or less above the ground.

Aircraft can identify this light by its specific red color. And it will be more effective when there is not too much air traffic. You can also use them when bright lights are not needed.

Medium Intensity Obstruction Lights

If we talk about medium intensity obstruction light, it is brighter as compared to low intensity lights. That means these types of lights help pilots to identify things that are higher up. Its color can be either flashing white (L-865) or flashing red ( L-864).

They are visible to you at wind turbines, telecommunications towers, and tall buildings. Additionally, its main application is for objects with a height range of 150 to 492 feet.

High Intensity Aviation Obstruction Light

High intensity lights are among the brightest of all. They are used on very tall structures that are more than 700 feet such as skyscrapers and large communication towers. These lights protect aircraft and airplanes from obstacles. Because, pilots can easily detect those big objects from very far distance as well.

Their color specification is white and flash to grab attention. You will find them in areas with heavy air traffic or higher altitudes.

Important Note: Well, there are some other terms that you will see about aviation lights. These are LED aviation obstruction lights and solar aviation obstruction lights. They are also the types of the above three that we discussed. However, they have some extra functionalities.

For example, solar-powered aviation obstruction lights use sunlight to store energy and then light up. According to our experience, solar aircraft warning lights are perfect for remote areas where electricity is unavailable.

Aviation Obstruction Lights Specifications & Requirements

Aviation obstruction lighting regulations​ are the standards set by global aviation authorities. They are FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

According to them, the aviation obstruction lighting requirements and specifications are as follows:

Above we talked about the rules of aviation lighting that you have to follow if you are in construction or manage tall towers, etc. Now, let’s discuss these rules in detail.

• You have to install 3 obstruction lights on every floor, at least. This is if the diameter of your top building structure is less than/equal to 20 feet.
• 4 aviation lights for each floor in case the diameter value is from 20 to 100 feet.
• For buildings which have 100-200 feet in width, you should arrange 6 lights for every floor.
• But for extra bigger structures than the above three, 8 aviation lights are recommended.
• Lights must also have a minimum blinking rate of 20-60 flashes per minute.

Below is a simple table that shows you further requirements of aviation lights by ICAO.

Main Uses of Aviation Obstruction Lights

Aircraft warning lights have several applications. With the basic purpose of enhancing visibility and protecting from disaster, you can use them in many ways.

• Airports and Airfields

Well, you can actually use obstruction lights at airports and airfields to guide pilots during takeoff and landing. They help mark tall buildings and towers. As a result, the flight path will be clear and safe (especially at night or in bad weather).

• Train Yard

In case you want to highlight heighted equipment and signal poles, you can use these lights in the train yard. The major aim is to prevent accidents during loading and unloading. As it also helps train operators move safely in low light.

• Protection From Aircraft Collisions

As we already discussed, pilots can notice tall objects from far away due to these lights. This lowers the risk of crashes, too. Plus, we use them to keep both the aircraft and people safe during landing on earth.

• Tall Buildings and Towers

Tall buildings can disturb airplane operations and have the ability to collide with them. On the other side, radio and television antenna towers also create distractions. So, aviation obstruction lights are only solution for those types of problems.

• Wind Turbines and Power Plants

Wind turbines and power plants also create a big risk sometimes. Because they are invisible and hard to spot in bad or good weather. Aviation lights clear the flight path and protect them from hitting the power plant structure and blades of turbines.

• Construction Sites

These lights are also used to mark tall cranes or buildings that are under construction. In this way, you can easily keep air traffic clear of obstacles during the building process.

Benefits of Aviation Red Obstruction Lights

If we think about the positive aspects of aviation lights, they are countless. Because it effectively warns pilots about the dangers. They can also spot structures that may block aircraft.

1. Clear 24/7 Visibility

No matter if it is day or night, these lights are always effective in providing you with clear sight. In addition, it is suitable in all weather and keeps airspace safe at all times.

2. Easy Installation and Maintenance

Red and white aviation obstruction lights are manufactured in a way that we can easily install them. You only need a little effort to maintain it as well. Their design makes them easy to set up. If you simply check them daily or after a few days, this will be really enough for them to last longer.

3. Increases Air Safety

If you want the safety of your buildings and people around them, the only solution is aviation lights. Because they allow pilots to detect potential obstacles early. Along with this, they also ensure safer skies during low visibility conditions.

4. Prevention of Accidents

They reduce the chances of collisions between airspace objects and earth objects. Furthermore, these lights are especially beneficial in areas with heavy air traffic or poor visibility.

What is Aviation Obstruction Light Price?

The exact answer will vary because it depends on the type of light you want to buy. However, we can give you an estimate of the cost range, it is from $70 to $600. We advise you to also keep in mind the aviation obstruction light HS code (85122090).

The reason is you will need it during your shipping and import/export.​ If you order from a global aviation obstruction light supplier​​ like us, we can supply you with high-quality safety lights at an extremely affordable price.

How You Can Select The Right Aviation Obstruction Lighting?

You will enjoy the right benefits if you select the perfect lights according to your needs. Each category of aviation lights has its specific qualities. Therefore, you have to consider the following factors before buying.

Analyze the Height & Type of Structure

First thing you should assess is how tall your buildings or towers are. If the structure is between 200 and 500 feet, then the medium intensity lights are a good option.

Otherwise, if it is more heightened, high-intensity lights will be more suited for your project. Moreover, the different shapes of objects require different parameters as well.

Know the Lighting Requirements (Day, Night, or Both)

Some lights are designed for use only at night. Others work well during the day as well. In the daytime, you can use high-intensity lights(white color). If you are still confused, then we recommend you choose a combination of red and white aviation lights.

Consider Environmental Conditions

Weather and surrounding conditions are also very important to take note of. If the area has heavy fog, rain or snow, you will basically need brighter lights. 

The major thing you should keep in mind about the light you are going to choose is that it must also be able to handle UV light damage.

See Your Power Options (Solar, AC / DC)

If you have access to stable grid power, then AC is the right option for you. Otherwise, if you depend on battery power, then DC will work well. From the perspective of solar lights, they are more sustainable and are going to fit your needs in remote locations.

Conclusion

Finally, we hope you now have a very good understanding of aviation obstruction lights, their use, and their types. As you can see, this is the necessary equipment that you should install on high buildings. In this way, you can keep planes, pilots, and other people safe.

If you are looking for professional aviation obstruction light manufacturers, we are the perfect partner for you. Contact us now! We have a very large stock of products available and our team can also customize obstruction lights according to your needs.