I saw this beacon at an old airport; how and in what situations was it used?
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2$\begingroup$ Please provide attribution for your image. $\endgroup$– CGCampbellNov 1, 2015 at 15:53
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1$\begingroup$ What airport was this seen at? Are there other pictures? Airport beacons are typically White/Green Rotating units and do not have a red light on top. This may however predate modern convention. $\endgroup$– DaveNov 2, 2015 at 2:21
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$\begingroup$ I took this pic myself at Ljungbyhed, Sweden(ESTL). More pics on request ;) $\endgroup$– juni-jNov 2, 2015 at 20:31
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1 Answer
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It's the airfield identification beacon.
An aerodrome beacon or rotating beacon is a beacon installed at an airport or aerodrome to indicate its location to aircraft pilots at night.
An aerodrome beacon is mounted on top of a towering structure, often a control tower, above other buildings of the airport. It produces flashes not unlike that of a lighthouse.
Airport and heliport beacons are designed in such a way to make them most effective from one to ten degrees above the horizon; however, they can be seen well above and below this peak spread. The beacon may be an omnidirectional flashing xenon strobe, or it may be an aerobeacon rotating at a constant speed which produces the visual effect of flashes at regular intervals. Flashes may be of just a single color, or of two alternating colors.
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$\begingroup$ Flyer's version of a lighthouse... except it indicates the port, not a hazard to avoid. I've seen these from above, when in a friend's private plane after dark; they definitely do catch your eye and help you plan your approach. $\endgroup$– keshlamNov 1, 2015 at 3:09