FAA TOWER MARKING

AND LIGHTING
REGULATIONS
BRUCE BEARD
AIR TRAFFIC,
OBSTRUCTION
EVALUATION GROUP
SUPERVISOR, U.S.
OPERATIONS
FAA

RICHARD G. HICKEY
DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT
UTILITY
INFRASTRUCTURE
SPX FLASH
TECHNOLOGY

TOPICS TODAY

Introduction (addressing structures up

to 500 AGL)
The FAA / FCC relationship
Tower Filing Requirements
Monitoring Requirements
New Rules
FAA A1, A2, A3 Lighting and Marking
Limiting Your Exposure to Liabilities
Question and Answer

FAA / FCC- HOW IT

WORKS

The FCC authorizes the FAA to establish lighting and

marking regulations in Title 47 Code of Federal Regulations

FAA regulations apply to all man-made structures

FAA regulations on non-RF structures are enforced by the

United States Federal Court

Fines are imposed for improper marking, lighting, and

monitoring. Utilities are no exception. See enforcement
(note the number of utilities and municipalities) actions at:
https://www.fcc.gov/eb/broadcast/asml.html

The FAA Notice Criteria Tool:

https://oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaa/external/gisTools/gisAction.
jsp?action=showNoNoticeRequiredToolForm

FILING
REQUIREMENTS

AGL / AMSL
MAXIMUM HEIGHT FILING REQUIREMENT
CIRCULATION
DETERMINATION
GRANDFATHER CLAUSE (EXISTING
TOWERS)
CONSTRUCTION NOTAM (NEW
CONSTRUCTION)
SURROUNDING STRUCTURES OR TERRAIN
UTILITY WAIVER?
THE NEW RULES

FAA REGULATIONS ADVISORY

CIRCULARS AND OTHER INFORMATION
Obstruction Marking and Lighting- AC
70/7460-1K Chg 2
Parameters for Obstruction Lighting and
Marking- AC 150/5345-43F
Regulations for Certification of Obstruction
Lighting- AC 150/5345-53C
Listing of ETL Certified Lighting ProductsAC 150/5345-53C Addendum
Certification is not required, but is often the
single most important factor in liability
suits.

MONITORING
REQUIREMENTS

FAA AC70/7460-1K Change 2, Chapter 2, Paragraph 23, Section b:

Any failure or malfunction that lasts more than thirty (30) minutes and affects a top light or
flashing obstruction light, regardless of its position, should be reported immediately to the
appropriate flight service station (FSS) so a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) can be issued.
Section a states:
Failure of a steady burning side or intermediate light should be corrected as soon as possible, but
notification is not required.
Footnote concerning NOTAMs:
1. When the primary lamp in a double obstruction light fails, and the secondary lamp comes on,
no report is required. However, when one of the lamps in an incandescent L-864 flashing red
beacon fails, it should be reported.
2. After 15 days, the NOTAM is automatically deleted from the system. The sponsor is responsible
for calling the nearest FSS to extend the outage date or to report a return to service date.
Paragraph 24 Notice of Restoration:
As soon as normal operation is restored, notify the same FSS that received the notification of
failure.
The FCC advises that noncompliance with notification procedures could subject its sponsor to
penalties or monetary forfeitures.

MONITORING
REQUIREMENTS
FAA AC70/7460-1K Change 2, Chapter 4:
47. MONITORING OBSTRUCTION LIGHTS
Obstruction lighting systems should be closely monitored by visual or automatic means.
It is extremely important to visually inspect obstruction lighting in all operating
intensities at least once every 24 hours on systems without automatic monitoring.
In the event a structure is not readily accessible for visual observation, a properly
maintained automatic monitor should be used. This monitor should be designed to
register the malfunction of any light on the obstruction regardless of its position or
color.
When using remote monitoring devices, the communication status and operational
status of the system should be confirmed at least once every 24 hours. The monitor
(aural or visual) should be located in an area generally occupied by responsible
personnel. In some cases, this may require a remote monitor in an attended location.
For each structure, a log should be maintained in which daily operations status of the
lighting system is recorded.

MONITORING
REQUIREMENTS
FCC Title 47 Part 17.47, Code of Federal Regulations CFR
17.47 Inspection of antenna structure lights and associated control
equipment.
The owner of any antenna structure which is registered with the Commission
and has been assigned lighting specifications referenced in this part:
(a)(1) Shall make an observation of the antenna structures lights at least once
each 24 hours either visually or by observing an automatic properly maintained
indicator designed to register any failure of such lights, to insure that all such
lights are functioning properly as required; or alternatively,
(2) Shall provide and properly maintain an automatic alarm system designed
to detect any failure of such lights and to provide indication of such failure to
the owner.
(b) Shall inspect at intervals not to exceed 3 months all automatic or
mechanical control devices, indicators, and alarm systems associated with the
antenna structure lighting to insure that such apparatus is functioning
properly.
[61 FR 4363, Feb. 6, 1996]

New Rules Concerning L-810 Marker Lights

(Are they rules yet?)

PROPOSED:
Below 200 (A-0): No Change
200 to 350 A-1 & E-1: Markers to flash,
synchronized with L-864, 30 FPM (flashes
per minute)
350 + A-2 / E-2 & above: Markers may be
eliminated if L-864s flash at 30 FPM

FAA DESIGNATION A
Required configurations for red lighting consist of Medium
Intensity flashing (L-864) and steady-burn red obstruction lighting
(L-810, commonly called side markers), or only the L-810
steady-burn lighting depending on the AGL height of the tower.
NOTE: The FAA only accepts Aviation Orange and White alternating
paint bands or white strobe lighting for Day Marking. Red lighting
is not accepted as a day marking.
Aviation Orange and White painting is addressed in the AC
70/7460-1K Chg 2, chapters 3 and 12.
The number of paint bands required depends on the overall AGL
height of the tower. The top and bottom bands are always orange.
The paint must be maintained. Fines for faded paint are
commonplace and have ranged from $5,000 to $13,000 over the
past year.
The Hale Color Chart is normally used as a guideline for
determining the compliance of the paint. See
www.halecolorcharts.com

FAA DESIGNATION A

A0, A1, A2 (Red Lights and Paint)

FAA DESIGNATION A TECHNOLOGIES

L-864: Red Beacon

Flashing- LED, Xenon, or Incandescent2,000 cd output

FAA DESIGNATION E
White strobe for day, red strobe for night. LED or Xenon, may have incandescent
for night. FAA designation L-864/L-865 with L-810 markers.
Side markers normally required
Paint is not normally required
Day intensity- 20,000 cd
Night intensity- 2,000 cd
May be preferred in areas near populace due to the red lighting at night and the
general public aversion to overspray or mitt precipitation from tower painting.
Normally not recommended by the FAA for structures <200 in height AGL.
Towers >150 to 350 are normally required to have one or more flashing L-864
and L-865 beacons at the top and at least two L-810 steady-burn side marker
lights at the intermediate level (E1).
Towers >350 to 700 should have one or more flashing L-864 and L-865 beacons
at the top, two flashing L-864 and L-865 beacons at the mid-point (no lower than
200), one level of steady-burn L-810 side markers at the mid-point between the
two levels of flashing lights, and one level of steady-burn L-810 side markers at
the mid-point between the lowest tier of flashing beacons and the ground (tower
base). At each marker level, there should be one L-810 on each leg of the tower.

FAA DESIGNATION E

E1 and E2 Dual (Red/White) Lighting Systems

FAA DESIGNATION E TECHNOLOGIES

May be a combination of LED, Xenon, and incandescent

(red only) technologies

L-864/L-865: White and Red Flashing Strobe Beacons,

2,000 cd night / 20,000 cd day

L-810 Side Marker Lights required

FAA DESIGNATION D

White strobe only, LED or Xenon. FAA designation L-865.

No side markers
Paint is not normally required
Day intensity- 20,000 cd
Night intensity- 2,000 cd
Always flashing. No steady burn option.
Normally found in rural locations since white lighting is more
obtrusive to the human eye than red.
Normally not recommended by the FAA for structures <200
in height AGL.
Towers 200 to 350 AGL (D1) normal configuration is one or
more L-865 strobes at the top of the tower. Towers >350 to
500 AGL (D2) normal configuration is one or more L-865
strobes at the top of the tower and two or more L-865
strobes at the mid-point (but no lower than 200.

FAA DESIGNATION D

D1 and D2 White Lighting Systems

FAA DESIGNATION D TECHNOLOGIES

L-865: White Strobe Beacon

Flashing- LED or Xenon.
Output- 2,000 cd night / 20,000 cd day

EXPOSURE TO LIABILITY

Utility companies are manna

from heaven to an attorney in a
wrongful death suit. Hatcher
Freis, Esq.

EXPOSURE TO LIABILITY

Monitor
Maintain logs
Audit your sites
There is no small stuff
Trust the facts, not the hearsay
Use reputable service companies
Be diligent

Q&A

QUESTIONS?