[BC] to light or not to light

[John Buffaloe]

I had a situation in San Diego several years ago where I was contacted by
the police department's helicopter division and asked if I would put strobes
on the 442' KSON tower.  They were always in the area (high crime) and down
low, worried about not finding the red lights.  I took a night time ride
with them and approaching the tower from the north I could pick it out, but
when I looked away and looked back the red lights had disappeared into the
tail lights of cars traveling south on I-5.  After 18 months of hassle with
the FAA I was finally able to get the change to strobes.  I much preferred
to spend the money on that than have a police helicopter fly into the tower.
Also, as a private pilot, I am a big fan of strobe lighting on obstructions.

John A Buffaloe
Bext, Inc
619-685-3919

 

-----Original Message-----
From: broadcast-bounces at radiolists.net
[mailto:broadcast-bounces at radiolists.net] On Behalf Of Thomas G. Osenkowsky
Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2006 2:57 PM
To: Broadcasters' Mailing List
Subject: Re: [BC] to light or not to light


The FAA bears the sole responsibility for hazard determination.
Just after I rebuilt WNYC(AM)'s transmitter plant in Greenpoint,
Brooklyn (830 KHz, now defunct) helicopter pilots persuaded the
FAA to mandate strobe lighting on the towers. They were just
off the river. The towers were previously unlit. If the FAA has
determined there is no hazard, they bear the responsibility for
that decision.

If you elected to keep the lighting at the request of the local airport,
pilots, etc. the station would willingly accept responsibility for the
maintenance of that lighting. Doing so may violate their Tower
Registration.

Here's a hypothetical scenario: WLAD, Danbury, CT's tower is
very close to Danbury Airport (DXR). Many pilots who have an
ADF set it to 800 KHz and follow the needle straight towards the
field. We also own WREF, Ridgefield, CT (850 KHz). If we
diplexed WLAD and WREF at the Ridgefield, CT site and a pilot
still believed we had not moved would WLAD be responsible for
that pilot's navigation?

Just playing Devil's Advocate. (Vanity is my favorite sin)

Tom Osenkowsky, CPBE

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