GSN Dec 2015/Jan 2016 Digital Edition
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FAA updates airspace obstructions standards to<br />
make sure that airspace is safe and navigable<br />
Among the Federal Aviation Administration’s<br />
(FAA) main priorities<br />
is to keep all users of our national<br />
airspace safe. To maintain the safest<br />
aerospace system in the world, the<br />
FAA must make sure the national<br />
airspace is navigable and free of<br />
obstructions.<br />
When anyone proposes<br />
new construction<br />
or proposes<br />
to alter<br />
existing structures<br />
near airports<br />
or navigational<br />
aids,<br />
the FAA determines<br />
how the<br />
proposal would<br />
affect the airspace.<br />
These FAA determinations<br />
about the appropriate<br />
height of buildings, wind<br />
turbines and meteorological towers<br />
near airports, and how they are<br />
lighted and marked, contribute to<br />
the safe navigation of our skies.<br />
The agency has updated its guidelines<br />
for the proper way to light and<br />
mark obstructions affecting navigable<br />
airspace. Advisory Circular<br />
70/7460-1L for Obstruction Lighting<br />
and Marking is effective immediately.<br />
It cancels Advisory Circular<br />
70/7460-1K, dated February 1,<br />
2007.<br />
The main changes to the updated<br />
advisory circular are as follows:<br />
• Federal law requires that the<br />
FAA determine whether a structure<br />
that is proposed to be built or<br />
altered, 200 feet above ground level<br />
(AGL) or higher, or near an airport,<br />
does not pose a hazard to the airspace.<br />
To remain consistent with<br />
changes to the Code of Federal Regulation<br />
(CFR) Part 77, the height of<br />
a structure identified as an obstruction<br />
has been lowered from 500 feet<br />
(AGL) to 499 feet (AGL). All structures<br />
above 499 feet are considered<br />
obstructions and the FAA will continue<br />
to conduct an aeronautical<br />
study on these types of structures to<br />
determine their effect on the navigable<br />
airspace and ensure they do<br />
not create a hazard.<br />
• New lighting is specified for<br />
wind turbines at various heights.<br />
These recommendations will provide<br />
needed guidance for the rapidly<br />
developing wind industry that<br />
takes into account the unique characteristics<br />
of wind turbine farms.<br />
• The FAA implemented standards<br />
for voluntary marking of meteorological<br />
evaluation towers lower than<br />
200 feet. This is an effort to make<br />
21<br />
meteorological evaluation towers<br />
more noticeable and to add an extra<br />
layer of protection for low-level<br />
agricultural flight operations. These<br />
standards include those for lighting<br />
and marking of the tower and associated<br />
guy wires.<br />
• New lighting and marking standards<br />
are provided to reduce the impact<br />
on migratory bird populations.<br />
This change will reduce the confusion<br />
and disruption to migratory<br />
bird patterns that has been attributed<br />
to certain obstruction marking<br />
schemes.<br />
• A chapter on Aircraft Detection<br />
Lighting Systems (Chapter 14) was<br />
added to provide performance standards<br />
for these types of systems. This<br />
change is in response to community<br />
groups, industry, and the aviation<br />
community. New standards will enable<br />
lighting systems that operate<br />
based on aircraft proximity, increasing<br />
safety while reducing other impacts<br />
of the lighting schemes.<br />
For more information on this Advisory<br />
Circular and others go to: http://<br />
www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/<br />
advisory_circulars/
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