AIM Text
- An aeronautical light beacon is a visual NAVAID displaying flashes of white and/or colored light to indicate the location of an airport, a heliport, a landmark, a certain point of a Federal airway in mountainous terrain, or an obstruction. The light used may be a rotating beacon or one or more flashing lights. The flashing lights may be supplemented by steady burning lights of lesser intensity.
- The color or color combination displayed by a particular beacon and/or its auxiliary lights tell whether the beacon is indicating a landing place, landmark, point of the Federal airways, or an obstruction. Coded flashes of the auxiliary lights, if employed, further identify the beacon site.
Source: FAA Aeronautical Information Manual · current edition · paragraph 2-2-1.
The short answer
This AIM section is FAA advisory guidance defining an aeronautical light beacon as a visual NAVAID displaying flashes of white and/or colored light to indicate the location of an airport, heliport, landmark, a Federal airway point in mountainous terrain, or an obstruction. The color combination tells pilots what the beacon marks, and coded auxiliary flashes further identify the site.
Research Notes
Common Questions
What is an aeronautical light beacon?
An aeronautical light beacon is a visual NAVAID displaying flashes of white and/or colored light to indicate the location of an airport, a heliport, a landmark, a certain point of a Federal airway in mountainous terrain, or an obstruction.
What kinds of lights make up a beacon?
The light used may be a rotating beacon or one or more flashing lights. The flashing lights may be supplemented by steady burning lights of lesser intensity.
How does a beacon tell a pilot what it is marking?
The color or color combination displayed by a particular beacon and/or its auxiliary lights tells whether the beacon is indicating a landing place, landmark, point of the Federal airways, or an obstruction. Coded flashes of the auxiliary lights, if employed, further identify the beacon site.