Question: I just attended an aviation event that spanned a weekend. The airport has a control tower. On Friday and Saturday the airport beacon was on during the day. It was turned off on Sunday. I thought the beacon is only on at night?
Answer: The rotating beacon is on at night to help pilots find the airport. When it is on during the day, it is usually because the weather at the airport is below VFR minimums. It can also be turned during the day in VFR conditions when maintenance has been performed on the light and the technicians need to test it.
Fun fact: Before pilots navigated by radios, they navigated by beacons visible from up to 10 miles away. Some of these beacons are still on display at aviation museums and on the ground at some airports.
Ask us anything you’ve ever wanted to know about aviation. Our experts in general aviation, flight training, aircraft, avionics, and more may attempt to answer in a future article. Email your questions to editorial@flyingmag.com.
