Audio Visual Warning System
Encyclopedia
Audio Visual Warning System is an all-weather, day and night, low-voltage, Radar-based obstacle avoidance system that utilizes current obstruction lighting products and does not require additional equipment in an aircraft. AVWS activates obstruction lighting and audio signals to alert pilot’s of potential collisions with obstacles such as power lines
, wind turbine
s, bridges, and towers. The obstruction lights and audio warnings are inactive when there is no air traffic in the area of the obstruction.
The FAA's Obstruction Evaluation Service (OES) is currently preparing changes to Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) Advisory Circular (AC) 70/7460-1K, Obstruction Marking and Lighting, to incorporate Audio Visual Warning Systems (AVWS).
The FAA has analyzed and reviewed the Obstacle Collision Avoidance System
and has determined that OCAS provides an equivalent level of safety and is a suitable alternative to the marking and lighting requirements of obstacles as recommended in FAA AC 70/7460-1K. OCAS is the first AVWS to be installed, tested, and approved in the National Airspace
System (NAS).
Electric power transmission
Electric-power transmission is the bulk transfer of electrical energy, from generating power plants to Electrical substations located near demand centers...
, wind turbine
Wind turbine
A wind turbine is a device that converts kinetic energy from the wind into mechanical energy. If the mechanical energy is used to produce electricity, the device may be called a wind generator or wind charger. If the mechanical energy is used to drive machinery, such as for grinding grain or...
s, bridges, and towers. The obstruction lights and audio warnings are inactive when there is no air traffic in the area of the obstruction.
The FAA's Obstruction Evaluation Service (OES) is currently preparing changes to Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
(FAA) Advisory Circular (AC) 70/7460-1K, Obstruction Marking and Lighting, to incorporate Audio Visual Warning Systems (AVWS).
The FAA has analyzed and reviewed the Obstacle Collision Avoidance System
Obstacle Collision Avoidance System
The Obstacle Collision Avoidance System is designed to alert pilots if their aircraft is in immediate danger of flying into an obstacle. OCAS uses a low power ground based radar to provide detection and tracking of an aircraft's proximity to an obstacle such as a power line crossing, telecom...
and has determined that OCAS provides an equivalent level of safety and is a suitable alternative to the marking and lighting requirements of obstacles as recommended in FAA AC 70/7460-1K. OCAS is the first AVWS to be installed, tested, and approved in the National Airspace
Airspace
Airspace means the portion of the atmosphere controlled by a country above its territory, including its territorial waters or, more generally, any specific three-dimensional portion of the atmosphere....
System (NAS).