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Radio and communications tower warning lights

E

Easily Amused

Banned
I have twice asked the Canadian governmental agency this question. Ten years ago I was referred to pages of documents that were difficult to interpret. More recently, I never received a reply to my email. Perhaps someone here has the answer.

Out in the hamlet of Bethel in Port Colborne, Ontario there is a communication tower. The aircraft warning beacon on the top flashes a white-white-red sequence. It is the only tower in this area of the Niagara Peninsula that displays this pattern. Any other towers seem to be equipped with either a red or white beacon.

I first noticed the white-white-red sequence when flying out west for work in Saskatchewan back in 2014-15. Very easy to spot from a plane at night. I have never noticed this lighting arrangement on towers in the U.S., but I haven't been over there for a couple of years.

Is this pattern a visual aid for pilots, or does the sequence of lights have a different meaning?

Thank you for any insight the group might share. I am posting in the Canada folder, since I have only noted the lighting sequence in Canada. I know there are some industry professionals who frequent the board, and might know.

Also posted in the Canada folder, reposted here after suggestion received there.
 
Interesting question, if only for me as all of the tall towers along Birmingham's Red Mountain are red lights at night, except for the most northeastern tower of WVTM. At night it also switches to all-red, but the AOL (top light) stays on nighttime white strobe.
 
Doctor_Technical said:
Interesting question, if only for me as all of the tall towers along Birmingham's Red Mountain are red lights at night, except for the most northeastern tower of WVTM. At night it also switches to all-red, but the AOL (top light) stays on nighttime white strobe.
Click to expand...
Wondering if there is a problem with the top strobe? I'll have to check and see if they have an active NOTAM
 
Depending on the tower height and distance from an active runway there are usually different lighting schemes. Also there can be some "grandfathered" and even a waivered towers. Believe or not there are some tower operators using the old incadesant all red bulbs. One guy did his own climbing and had several dozen bulbs and was using them up.

Haven't had to deal with tower lighting since 1995 (thankfully!!) but a tower climber told me he put in compact florescents in the side markers that didn't flash on a tower about 30 miles away. Based on the electric bill, I don't know why everybody has gone the strobe / LED route.

The FAA used to publish tower lighting requirements.
 
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