The Air Navigation Order 2016

CHAPTER 2 U.K. Lights and lighting

Aeronautical lights U.K.

221.—(1) Except with the permission of the CAA and in accordance with any conditions subject to which the permission may be granted, a person must not establish, maintain or alter the character of—

(a) an aeronautical beacon within the United Kingdom; or

(b) any aeronautical ground light (other than an aeronautical beacon) at a national licensed aerodrome, or which forms part of the lighting system for use by aircraft taking off from or landing at such an aerodrome.

(2) In the case of an aeronautical beacon which is or may be visible from the waters within an area of a general lighthouse authority, the CAA must not give its permission for the purpose of this article except with the consent of that authority.

(3) A person must not intentionally or negligently damage or interfere with any aeronautical ground light established by or with the permission of the CAA.

Lighting of en-route obstacles U.K.

222.—(1) The person in charge of an en-route obstacle must ensure that it is fitted with medium intensity steady red lights positioned as close as possible to the top of the obstacle and at intermediate levels spaced so far as practicable equally between the top lights and ground level with an interval of not more than 52 metres.

(2) The person in charge of an en-route obstacle must, subject to paragraph (3), ensure that by night the lights required to be fitted by this article are displayed.

(3) In the event of the failure of any light which is required by this article to be displayed by night the person in charge must repair or replace the light as soon as reasonably practicable.

(4) At each level on the obstacle where lights are required to be fitted, sufficient lights must be fitted and arranged so as to show when displayed in all directions.

(5) In any particular case the CAA may direct that an en-route obstacle must be fitted with and must display such additional lights in such positions and at such times as it may specify.

(6) A permission may be granted for the purposes of this article for a particular case or class of cases or generally.

(7) This article does not apply to any en-route obstacle for which the CAA has granted a permission to the person in charge permitting that person not to fit and display lights in accordance with this article.

(8) In this article, an “en-route obstacle” means any building, structure or erection, the height of which is 150 metres or more above ground level, but it does not include a building, structure or erection—

(a) which is in the vicinity of a national licensed aerodrome or [F1 a] certificated aerodrome; and

(b) to which section 47 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982 (warning of presence of obstructions near licensed aerodromes) applies.

Textual Amendments

F1 Word in art. 222(8)(a) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Aviation Safety (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/645), reg. 1, Sch. 1 para. 58 (with Sch. 3) (as amended by S.I. 2019/1098, regs. 1(3), 12); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

Lighting of wind turbine generators in United Kingdom territorial waters U.K.

223.—(1) Subject to paragraph (10), this article applies to any wind turbine generator—

(a) the height of which is 60 metres or more above the level of the sea at the highest astronomical tide; and

(b) which is situated in waters within or adjacent to the United Kingdom up to the seaward limits of the territorial sea.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3) the person in charge of a wind turbine generator must ensure that it is fitted with at least one medium intensity steady red light positioned as close as reasonably practicable to the top of the fixed structure.

(3) If four or more wind turbine generators are located together in the same group, with the permission of the CAA only those on the periphery of the group need be fitted with a light in accordance with paragraph (2).

(4) Subject to paragraph (5), the light or lights required by paragraph (2) must be so fitted as to show when displayed in all directions without interruption.

(5) When displayed—

(a) the angle of the plane of the beam of peak intensity emitted by the light must be elevated to between three and four degrees above the horizontal plane;

(b) not more than 45% or less than 20% of the minimum peak intensity specified for a light of this type is to be visible at the horizontal plane;

(c) not more than 10% of the minimum peak intensity specified for a light of this type is to be visible at a depression of 1.5 degrees or more below the horizontal plane.

(6) Subject to paragraph (7), the person in charge of a wind turbine generator must ensure that by night, any light required to be fitted by this article is displayed.

(7) In the event of the failure of any light which is required by this article to be displayed by night the person in charge of a wind turbine generator must repair or replace the light as soon as reasonably practicable.

(8) If visibility in all directions from every wind turbine generator in a group is more than 5km the light intensity for any light required by this article to be fitted to any generator in the group and displayed may be reduced to not less than 10% of the minimum peak intensity specified for a light of this type.

(9) In any particular case the CAA may direct that a wind turbine generator must be fitted with and display such additional lights in such positions and at such times as it may specify.

(10) This article does not apply to any wind turbine generator for which the CAA has granted a permission to the person in charge permitting that person not to fit and display lights in accordance with this article.

(11) A permission may be granted for the purposes of this article for a particular case or class of cases or generally.

(12) In this article—

(a) “wind turbine generator” is a generating station which is wholly or mainly driven by wind;

(b) the height of a wind turbine generator is the height of the fixed structure or if greater the maximum vertical extent of any blade attached to that structure; and

(c) a wind turbine generator is in the same group as another wind turbine generator if the same person is in charge of both and—

(i) it is within 2km of that other wind turbine generator; or

(ii) it is within 2km of a wind turbine generator which is in the same group as that other wind turbine generator.

Lights liable to endanger U.K.

224.—(1) A person must not exhibit in the United Kingdom any light which—

(a) by reason of its glare is liable to endanger aircraft taking off from or landing at an aerodrome; or

(b) by reason of its liability to be mistaken for an aeronautical ground light is liable to endanger aircraft.

(2) If any light which appears to the CAA to be a light described in paragraph (1) is exhibited, the CAA may direct the person who is the occupier of the place where the light is exhibited or who has charge of the light, to take such steps within a reasonable time as are specified in the direction—

(a) to extinguish or screen the light; and

(b) to prevent in the future the exhibition of any other light which may similarly endanger aircraft.

(3) The direction may be served either personally or by post, or by affixing it in some conspicuous place near to the light to which it relates.

(4) In the case of a light which is or may be visible from any waters within the area of a general lighthouse authority, the power of the CAA under this article must not be exercised except with the consent of that authority.

Lights which dazzle or distract U.K.

225.  A person must not in the United Kingdom direct or shine any light at any aircraft in flight so as to dazzle or distract the pilot of the aircraft.