On 6/3/21 9:45 PM, KD7JYK DM09 wrote:
"Here it’s( was) 200 feet and over and they had to be an approved
type. Different blink pattern day/night."
Don't rule out uneducated, and reactionary imbeciles, either... We had
a 199.9' tower put in the community. Met all requirements. Local
short term political attention whores (neighbors getting "elected"
into positions they think matter) insisted on a light, which was
pointless, since minimal craft level by federal law is 1,000'.
"Someone might hit it!" Sure, and if they might hit that, they might
hit a power pole, or tree, but you don't want lights on those...
Putting on the light, made the tower roughly 202' high, which
ironically, requires a light! The light that wasn't required satisfied
the requirement of the light on the tower that didn't require one...
The guy that programmed the light pattern did. It flashed very
slowly, "F--K YOU", which wasn't noticed for years. I wouldn't have
even noticed myself, had I not gotten into QRSS CW at the time. At
some point, the unobtrusive gray galvanized tower was painted a
brilliant red/white scheme, making it visible for miles. You'd think
this was for safety, as you look down on it, in a bowl, from the hills
surrounding it, and between 5, and ten times the height of the tower,
where there are no craft in danger of hitting it.... Nope, I talked
with the crew. "Every time someone says something stupid, or
annoying, we get told to make it more offensive!"
Back to the primary issue... What one says, thinks, et cetera, may
have nothing to do with anything. Find someone in your country who
knows the rules, as they pertain to towers, lighting, craft,
what-have-you, here it's the Code Of Federal Regulations, and just
read it. What is printed is law, anything else is opinion. Make
certain to get the most RECENT printing, a two year old book doesn't
cut it, not here, anyway. Years were wasted fighting for a light on a
tower that by law, and as far as all agencies concerned with safety,
and enforcement were concerned, FCC, and FAA, didn't need one anyway.
I'd start with, "Why?", then as they attempt to answer, they may find
one isn't needed. Alternately, maybe it is, but the answer should
provide valid information. Get it in writing, from a valid source,
words from the counter help are worthless in the end, the person
making a fuzz now, may be cleaning toilets at a fast food joint in a
week. From experience, however, I'd find out on my own first. They
average person you may deal with, may hope you know less than they do,
and it never does one good to go in blind, or uninformed.
Best of luck, please keep us advised!
Kurt
It's the Authority Having Jurisdiction thing - The code might say X, but
the guy or gal with the pen in their hand makes the decision.
FWIW FAR on min altitudes:
1000 ft above highest point within 2000 ft in congested areas of city or
town OR an crowd of people (e.g. Woodstock)
500 ft in rural
0 in sparsely populated/over water as long as you're 500 ft from people
or significant people-stuff (structures, cars, boats, trains)
As for challenging the AHJ - that's very situationally dependent. You
don't want to win the battle and lose the war. The standard joke is
that a police officer can find at least 3 things to cite you for,
driving a brand new vehicle (with license and tags) on the open road.
Whether or not that's true - beating the AHJ (or HOA board or...) once
might lead to a succession of future questions and the net might be more
time consuming than just doing it.
It's sort of like in business - Sometimes it's easier to do the stupid
thing in the requirements than to spend the time and effort on a
waiver. If the AHJ says, I'd like an owl on top with a green beak, you
paint the beak of the thing green, install it, and be done.
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