CS ADR-DSN.M.620 Aeronautical beacons

• ED Decision 2014/013/R found in: Aerodromes (139/2014) Part-ADR.AR Part-ADR.OR Part-ADR.OPS CS-ADR-DSN CS-HPT-DSN (Jun 2023)

CS ADR-DSN.M.620 Aeronautical beacons ED Decision 2014/013/R (a) General (1) When operationally necessary an aerodrome beacon or identification beacon should be provided at each aerodrome intended for use at night. (2) The operational requirement should be determined having regard to the requirements of the air traffic using the aerodrome, the conspicuity of the aerodrome features in relation to its surroundings, and the installation of other visual and non-visual aids useful in locating the aerodrome. (b) Aerodrome beacon (1) Applicability An aerodrome beacon should be provided at an aerodrome intended for use at night if aircraft navigate predominantly by visual means and one or more of the following conditions exist: (i) reduced visibilities are frequent; or (ii) it is difficult to locate the aerodrome from the air due to surrounding lights or terrain. (2) Location (i) The aerodrome beacon should be located on or adjacent to the aerodrome in an area of low ambient background lighting. (ii) The location of the beacon should be such that the beacon is not shielded by objects in significant directions and does not dazzle a pilot approaching to land. (3) Characteristics (i) The aerodrome beacon should show either coloured flashes alternating with white flashes or white flashes only. (ii) The frequency of total flashes should be from 20 to 30 per minute. (iii) The light from the beacon should show at all angles of azimuth. The vertical light distribution should extend upwards from an elevation of not more than 1° to an elevation sufficient to provide guidance at the maximum elevation at which the beacon is intended to be used, and the effective intensity of the flash should be not less than 2 000 cd. (iv) At locations where a high ambient background lighting level cannot be avoided, the effective intensity of the flash should be required to be increased by a factor up to a value of 10. (c) Identification beacon (1) Applicability An identification beacon should be provided at an aerodrome which is intended for use at night and cannot be easily identified from the air by other means. (2) Location (i) The identification beacon should be located on the aerodrome in an area of low ambient background lighting. (ii) The location of the beacon should be such that the beacon is not shielded by objects in significant directions and does not dazzle a pilot approaching to land. (3) Characteristics (i) An identification beacon at a land aerodrome should show at all angles of azimuth. The vertical light distribution should extend upwards from an elevation of not more than 1° to an elevation sufficient to provide guidance at the maximum elevation at which the beacon is intended to be used, and the effective intensity of the flash should be not less than 2 000 cd. (ii) At locations where a high ambient background lighting level cannot be avoided, the effective intensity of the flash should be required to be increased by a factor up to a value of 10. (iii) An identification beacon should show flashing-green. (iv) The identification characters should be transmitted in the International Morse Code. (v) The speed of transmission should be between six and eight words per minute, the corresponding range of duration of the Morse dots being from 0.15 to 0.2 seconds per dot. CS ADR-DSN.M.620 Aeronautical beacons ED Decision 2014/013/R (a) General (1) When operationally necessary an aerodrome beacon or identification beacon should be provided at each aerodrome intended for use at night. (2) The operational requirement should be determined having regard to the requirements of the air traffic using the aerodrome, the conspicuity of the aerodrome features in relation to its surroundings, and the installation of other visual and non-visual aids useful in locating the aerodrome. (b) Aerodrome beacon (1) Applicability An aerodrome beacon should be provided at an aerodrome intended for use at night if aircraft navigate predominantly by visual means and one or more of the following conditions exist: (i) reduced visibilities are frequent; or (ii) it is difficult to locate the aerodrome from the air due to surrounding lights or terrain. (2) Location (i) The aerodrome beacon should be located on or adjacent to the aerodrome in an area of low ambient background lighting. (ii) The location of the beacon should be such that the beacon is not shielded by objects in significant directions and does not dazzle a pilot approaching to land. (3) Characteristics (i) The aerodrome beacon should show either coloured flashes alternating with white flashes or white flashes only. (ii) The frequency of total flashes should be from 20 to 30 per minute. (iii) The light from the beacon should show at all angles of azimuth. The vertical light distribution should extend upwards from an elevation of not more than 1° to an elevation sufficient to provide guidance at the maximum elevation at which the beacon is intended to be used, and the effective intensity of the flash should be not less than 2 000 cd. (iv) At locations where a high ambient background lighting level cannot be avoided, the effective intensity of the flash should be required to be increased by a factor up to a value of 10. (c) Identification beacon (1) Applicability An identification beacon should be provided at an aerodrome which is intended for use at night and cannot be easily identified from the air by other means. (2) Location (i) The identification beacon should be located on the aerodrome in an area of low ambient background lighting. (ii) The location of the beacon should be such that the beacon is not shielded by objects in significant directions and does not dazzle a pilot approaching to land. (3) Characteristics (i) An identification beacon at a land aerodrome should show at all angles of azimuth. The vertical light distribution should extend upwards from an elevation of not more than 1° to an elevation sufficient to provide guidance at the maximum elevation at which the beacon is intended to be used, and the effective intensity of the flash should be not less than 2 000 cd. (ii) At locations where a high ambient background lighting level cannot be avoided, the effective intensity of the flash should be required to be increased by a factor up to a value of 10. (iii) An identification beacon should show flashing-green. (iv) The identification characters should be transmitted in the International Morse Code. (v) The speed of transmission should be between six and eight words per minute, the corresponding range of duration of the Morse dots being from 0.15 to 0.2 seconds per dot.