FCC Aircraft Obstruction Light Rules: Prevent Liability and Fines with Tower Light Remote Monitoring

The recent tragedy in Texas where a military helicopter crashed into a television broadcast tower highlights the serious implications of not implementing a monitoring system and abiding by the aircraft obstruction light rules. The tower's lights were not operational at the time of the collision.

Examples of FCC Aircraft Obstruction Light Rules:

• The owner of any antenna structure, which is registered with the commission, shall make an observation of the antenna structure's lights at least once every 24 hours, either visually or by observing an automatic properly maintained indicator.
• The owner shall provide and properly maintain an automatic alarm system designed to detect any failure of such lights.
• The owner shall report immediately (or within 30 minutes of light failure) to the nearest Flight Service Station or FAA office.

Not abiding by these rules will result in heavy fines and liabilities upon the tower owner.

You Need Alarm Monitoring to Obey Obstruction Light Rules

Avoiding heavy fines and liabilities for violating aircraft obstruction light rules requires a high-quality monitoring solution. Such a solution allows you to:

• Maintain a 24/7 continuous watch on your tower no matter where you are located.
• Drastically reduce notification time from 30 minutes to 30 seconds.

NetDog G2: An Effective Solution For Tower Monitoring

The NetDog G2 is a high-quality tower monitoring solution that provides effective results against constant policing by the FCC with 2 analog inputs and easy wiring.

UPDATE: Upgrade Your Monitoring with T/Mon

While the NetDog G2 has been a reliable choice for tower monitoring in the past, the industry now demands a stronger and more future-ready solution to tackle growing compliance and operational challenges. That's where the T/Mon, the remote alarm monitoring system from DPS Telecom, comes in.

The T/Mon is the Ultimate Upgrade

1. Comprehensive Alarm Management: T/Mon integrates alarm data from multiple sources - whether legacy or modern systems - into a single interface. This eliminates the need for juggling multiple platforms​.
2. Unparalleled Scalability: Unlike the NetDog G2, which is optimized for smaller-scale applications, T/Mon is built to handle thousands of alarm points, making it ideal for expanding operations or managing large-scale networks​.
3. Advanced Notification Systems: Whether it's email, text, or SNMP trap notifications, T/Mon makes sure that critical alerts reach the right people at the right time, minimizing response delays​.
4. Future-Proof Technology: With its ability to mediate alarms across various protocols - including SNMPv3, DCP, and Modbus - T/Mon ensures smooth integration with existing systems and prepares your network for future upgrades​.

Key Benefits of T/Mon for FCC Compliance

• 24/7 Visibility: The platform enables constant monitoring of obstruction lights and other site-critical systems, meeting and exceeding FAA and FCC standards.
• Customizable Alarm Displays: Operators can view alarms in plain English, ensuring quick comprehension and resolution of issues​.
• Automatic Data Logging: Comprehensive logs make it easy to demonstrate compliance during audits and analyze trends to prevent outages.

Ready to Upgrade?

For operations that demand the highest levels of efficiency, reliability, and compliance, T/Mon is the clear choice. By transitioning from the NetDog G2 to T/Mon, you gain a platform capable of supporting your network's growth while providing unmatched situational awareness and peace of mind.