Author Topic: Amber light on top of a tower???  (Read 15316 times)

Offline NAplaya16-ATC

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Amber light on top of a tower???
« on: October 18, 2011, 11:09:19 PM »
I was asked this question the other day, b/c i guess a pilot had noticed an "amber" light on top of a tower, and was confused as to what it meant.

I was not sure if they meant the light was on top of either a regular obstruction or a control tower, but they mentioned they saw an "amber" light on top of the tower and wasn't sure what it meant since they had apparently never seen it before.

Does anyone know, whether a fellow controller or a pilot, what this amber light means?  I tried looking it up in the AIM, but could not find anything that talked about an "amber" light dealing with towers.

I appreciate any information/help one could give!  Thanks




Offline dave

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Re: Amber light on top of a tower???
« Reply #1 on: October 18, 2011, 11:13:35 PM »
It means: don't fly into me.  :-)

More info at:
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/policy/dtv/lighting.html

One of the towers I climb regularly is a painted and lighted tower since it is close to an airport - fixed red lights at 155 feet and a blinking red light at 300 feet (the top).

Offline NAplaya16-ATC

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Re: Amber light on top of a tower???
« Reply #2 on: October 18, 2011, 11:52:43 PM »
But on a control tower???   I completely understand the lighting for obstruction towers and stacks, etc. That stuff is easy to understand, but I got the feeling that they saw it on top of control tower and that it was completely different from any sort of rotating beacon or obstruction light...Thats why I am so confused as to what this person saw, and what it could mean
« Last Edit: October 18, 2011, 11:56:47 PM by NAplaya16-ATC »

Offline dave

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Re: Amber light on top of a tower???
« Reply #3 on: October 18, 2011, 11:54:08 PM »
Control towers are lit, too.  I'm not sure I follow you - why would it be surprising that a control tower would have lighting?

Offline NAplaya16-ATC

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Re: Amber light on top of a tower???
« Reply #4 on: October 18, 2011, 11:57:19 PM »
But on a control tower???   I completely understand the lighting for obstruction towers and stacks, etc. That stuff is easy to understand, but I got the feeling that they saw it on top of control tower and that it was completely different from any sort of rotating beacon or obstruction light...Thats why I am so confused as to what this person saw, and what it could mean

Offline dave

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Re: Amber light on top of a tower???
« Reply #5 on: October 19, 2011, 12:00:26 AM »
But on a control tower???   I completely understand the lighting for obstruction towers and stacks, etc. That stuff is easy to understand, but I got the feeling that they saw it on top of control tower and that it was completely different from any sort of rotating beacon or obstruction light...Thats why I am so confused as to what this person saw, and what it could mean

It sounds like the person is not even sure what he saw.  But I have seen fixed obstruction lights on control towers.  If I am not mistaken it is pretty standard.  If you were working in the control tower, wouldn't you want lights up above you to make you more visible?  :-)

Offline NAplaya16-ATC

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Re: Amber light on top of a tower???
« Reply #6 on: October 19, 2011, 12:04:40 AM »
Haha of course!  I definitely think this pilot was confused too an by him talking to me, he has in turn, confused me too!  Haha

I totally understand having Obstruction Lights on the Control Tower.  I mean, thats just plain common sense, but I like you said, I do think this pilot was confused on what he saw and I guess it just kind of threw him off.

Offline StuSEL

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Re: Amber light on top of a tower???
« Reply #7 on: October 20, 2011, 12:16:02 AM »
Amber lighting is used in conjunction with white to indicate a lighted water airport. Depending on where you're located, that may or may not make sense to have a lighted water airport nearby :).

Offline NAplaya16-ATC

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Re: Amber light on top of a tower???
« Reply #8 on: October 20, 2011, 01:18:12 AM »
I thought that was a yellow light, which meant lighted water airport

Offline StuSEL

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Re: Amber light on top of a tower???
« Reply #9 on: October 20, 2011, 04:50:04 PM »
You're right. But I figured it was close enough.  :-)