Regional Affairs

Radio tower at Fullerton must be lit, FAA says

When the KFI radio tower at Fullerton Municipal Airport in California is rebuilt, pilots should be able to see it miles away. Despite strong objections from AOPA and area pilots, the FAA has allowed the radio tower to be rebuilt. However, it must be painted orange and white and have a dual obstruction lighting system that will flash high-intensity white lights during the day and red at night. AOPA insisted on the dual lighting system after the FAA repeatedly rebuffed the association's efforts to keep the radio tower from being rebuilt. In December 2004, two people died when a Cessna 182P flew into the tower, destroying it. This was the second fatal accident involving an aircraft hitting the tower, which is located within 220 feet of the climb/descent portion of the airport's traffic pattern. The FAA is allowing the tower to be rebuilt in the same location; however, the height will be restricted to 684 feet (the previous tower was 760 feet).

September 21, 2007