Tower Avoidance
provided by: OCAS, Inc
INCREASING SAFEY AND ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATORY CONCERNS
Telecommunication system asset owners and operators face a future filled with increased regulatory policy and greater societal expectations for improved environmental outcomes from infrastructure expansion and maintenance of existing sites. These externalities which include public annoyance and migratory bird issues are having significant impact on the site acquisition and permitting and will require asset owners to consider innovative technologies and construction practices to operate, maintain and expand communication networks.
Asset owners and operators have an opportunity to set new standards for telecommunication asset protection while reducing the environmental impact of their infrastructure and minimizing the impact of future O&M charges. 
OCAS, Inc. is setting new standards in obstruction marking safety with an active recognition system capable of delivering both visual and audible warnings to flight crews encroaching upon protected airspace surrounding telecommunications structures. The Obstacle Collision Avoidance System from OCAS is an innovative new approach coupling active recognition and multi-tier warning capabilities dedicated to the protection of ground based flight obstacles such as telecommunications towers, windmills and electric transmission lines.
MORE ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY = IMPROVED SAFETY AND A BETTER ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTION
Utilizing ground based radar surveillance as part of this active recognition system, the OCAS solution limits obstruction light run times to actual flight encroachment threats thus eliminating the constant barrage of light pollution associated with legacy obstruction marking applications which traditionally run the lighting system on a continuous basis to maintain compliance with aviation administration safety recommendations. Because run times are significantly reduced with the OCAS solution the life expectancy of each light is dramatically improved. Typically bulbs are replaced every 12 to 24 months on legacy marking applications. With OCAS, bulb replacement requirements caused by runtime burn-out will typically exceed 10+ years. Depending on tower height and location the audible warning provided by OCAS may result in a reduction in the number of lights required per structure to meet aviation authority marking recommendations as compared to legacy marking methods. The analysis completed by the appropriate aviation authority such as the FAA Obstruction Evaluation/Airport Airspace Analysis (OE/AAA) will determine the lighting requirements for each site.
]The OCAS application is further differentiated from other obstruction marking systems, requiring no additional equipment in the approaching aircraft to provide the audible alarm. Installation of the system is compatible with tower design and construction practices and will not compromise or complicate the tower equipment sighting process. Use of the OCAS solution should drastically improve the asset owner’s position with local property owners, environmentalists and regulators throughout the route sighting and approval process by decreasing public annoyance issues with the line, improving the habitat for migratory birds while increasing safety for the general aviation community. The operational characteristics which allow the visual and audible warning systems to remain passive until an aircraft is detected, leaving the skies free from light pollution, has earned the OCAS solution the endorsement of the International Dark-Sky Association.
