Obstruction beacon maker Dialight has developed a new line of LED obstruction red/white beacons with infrared flashers.
The company explains: “The use of NVGs [night vision goggles] in aviation is growing quickly, especially among military and medical helicopter pilots, for their improved sight distance and clarity in identifying obstacles, terrain and changing weather conditions. Yet, certain NVG filters block out the light produced by red LEDs, making the lights difficult to detect. The Dialight product utilizes IR LEDs in conjunction with red LEDs to optimize visibility of critical obstructions under all conditions.”
The beacons will be marketed in the company’s Vigilant line. Dialight describes them: “The new IR strobe features IR LEDs (in series with the red LEDs) operating with peak intensity at 850 nm to ensure 360 degrees of visibility with the latest generation of NVGs utilizing Class B or C filters. The Dialight dual-fixture is fully-compliant to the IR intensity and angle standards set by the Finnish Transport Safety Agency, which is widely accepted as the international standard.”
Dialight Group Chief Executive Michael Sutsko added, “As NVG use grows, we expect the FAA and TC [Transport Canada] to soon mandate IR integration into every existing red obstruction beacon. … This product puts obstruction owners and managers ahead of the game, with a compliance-ready solution for enhanced safety and protection for both pilots and the equipment.”
