TT2 Aviation Warning Light Out

Now, is it just me or is there an aviation warning light out on the left side halfway down on the tower?

Is that a bad thing? Dangerous or illegal?

The FAA's Advisory Circular on obstruction lighting can be found on their website.

AC 70/7460-1M - Obstruction Marking and Lighting

The TL:DR is...

1) The exact requirements vary based on the assessment of the safety risks of the specific structure and the surrounding area.

As TT2 is on flat terrain on a peninsula, it probably is of lower concern.

2) If the top-most light is out, the FAA must be immediately notified. In this case the FAA would issue a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) indicating the tower light outage.

All pilots are required to obtain all NOTAMs pertinent to their flight before departure. They csn be easily obtained my calling Flight Service for a standard preflight briefing.

The side lights generally aren't of urgent concern.

As far as a safety issue, the FAA mentions studies elsewhere on their website which have indicated that in many cases, tower lighting isn't a safety concern.

Why? Because...

A) Pilots operating under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) are required to have and study a Sectional Aeronautical Chart during their mandatory preflight planning, and the tower location and tower height is listed on the chart.

In most cases, pilots must remain 1000 feet above or 2000 feet horizontally from the obstacle.

So. A VFR pilot would plan his flight to remain well away from the tower.

B) Pilots flying IFR (instrument flight rules) have Minimum Safe Altitudes on IFR navigation charts, and must remain above those altitudes at all times.

So, if the pilot is doing what they are supposed to be doing, it is a non-issue.

It could be argued that if a pilot screws up and winds up where they aren't supposed to be, then the tower lighting can provide extra safety by alerting the pilot.

Very nice referencing the AC's. In my 30 years at the downtown Cleveland airport I issued countless NOTAM's on non-functioning obstruction lights. Usually on buildings or poles, cell. phone towers & such but never on a roller coaster. Wanted all the DA20's to navigate safely.

The park might not know. Better call them, and have a screenshot ready to share with them.

What time did the light go out - 9:20?

Maybe that’s the night that the lights went out in Sandusky. And yes, the Reba version is better than the original.

Well, it is good to know that the aviation lights on the 400+ ft. tower aren't a big deal either.

Why not post this here.

A poster over on Coasterbuzz reported the following:

Heads up, TT2 is testing a new restraint, instead of having a red bent piece of metal connecting the lap bar on the outside of the train these new restraints have a straight support that is padded. Currently all 3 trains have it in row 5 right side.

Anyone here observed this?

Have you alerted the FAA? 🙂

OH HEY I HAVE THE ANSWER ABOUT THAT RESTRAINT.
It's the middle row on all three trains, and no it's not new. It's always been there. (Go back and look at photos from last year, it's there) There is one restraint that is padded and it's meant for ADA guests who need help being transferred, in case they were to bonk their head on it. So yeah, it's a disability access thing.