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WGMD Is An Avaian Friendly Neighbor

June 25, 2019

Story Location:
31549 Dutton Lane
Lewes, DE 19958
United States

What You Need to Know About Avian Lighting Regulations

The FAA has passed a new series of guidelines that should help decrease avian deaths and cut costs simultaneously. This come as a change to the communication tower lighting standards that it has enacted. These changes could prevent the deaths of thousands of birds. The new changes include:

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Lighting Configurations.

The tower lighting that has been used to help pilots avoid structures has been having a negative effect on birds. This is because the lighting configurations on these structures use a variety of different types of lighting, including nonflashing red tower lights. This is only a problem because recent research concluded that many birds that are migrating have a hard time dealing with these lighting sources. They are drawn toward the light and often collide with the structure.

 

Important Changes

The research that was completed was presented by a number of different organizations to the FAA, with a request to change its lighting standards. The new configurations that they came up with feature flashing lights instead of the non-flashing options. After testing the new flashing lights, the FAA found that they were acceptable for keeping pilots safe while flying. The FAA successfully updated its obstruction marking and lighting standards helping keep pilots safe while limiting migrating bird fatalities issuing an update which can be seen  here.  

The WGMD tower, located west of Lewes, Delaware and about 5 miles from the Atlantic coast, is a 435 foot tall, guyed structure. WGMD caused the installation of tower lighting earlier this year that conforms with avian-friendly lighting. The new lighting system is also neighbor friendly.  LED technology is beamed onto mirrors focused so lights do not cause unwanted light polution and distraction to homes and farms within a mile of the tower. 

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