Aerodrome beacon

Airport and heliport beacons are designed in such a way to make them most effective from one to ten degrees above the horizon; however, they can be seen well above and below this peak spread.

The beacon may be an omnidirectional flashing xenon strobe, or it may be an aerobeacon rotating at a constant speed which produces the visual effect of flashes at regular intervals.

In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has established the following rules for airport beacons:[1] Flashing rates Color combinations In Class B, C, D, and E surface areas, operation of the airport beacon between sunrise and sunset often indicates that the ground visibility is less than 3 miles and/or the ceiling is less than 1,000 feet.

This is true particularly at locations where beacon controls are available to air traffic control personnel;[2] however there is no regulation requiring daytime operation.

Heliports with beacons exhibit the morse letter H (4 short flashes) at a rate of 3 to 4 groups per minute.