[SixClub] Now here's a tower and rotator (UPDATED)

Mon Oct 25 23:31:35 EDT 2010

On 10/25/2010 9:24 PM, Mike Pappas wrote:
> Just incase you have trouble going to sleep, here is some light government reading on towers.
>
> http://www.fcc.gov/mb/policy/dtv/lighting.html
>
> http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ato/service_units/systemops/fs/alaskan/towers/obstruction/media/AC70_7460_1K.pdf
>
> 20. STRUCTURES TO BE MARKED AND LIGHTED
> Any temporary or permanent structure, including all appurtenances, that exceeds an overall height of 200 feet (61m) above ground level (AGL) or exceeds any obstruction standard contained in 14 CFR part 77, should normally be marked and/or lighted.
>
The key word is "registered" or required "registration.   Ham towers 
outside airport areas 200' or less do not need to be registered or 
lighted. Inside airport areas (*generally* within 5 miles) have height 
restrictions based on height gradients. IF the ham tower does not exceed 
the height gradient it does not need to be registered, lighted, or painted.
> Mike Pappas
> W9CN
> advanceddigital at mac.com
>
>
>
> On Oct 25, 2010, at 7:18 PM, Chris Boone wrote:
>
>> Yet it was painted...
He did that by choice. That and to prevent rusting.
>> so it was a good bet it was over 200...
>>
No it was not.  It was either 180 or 190'. and about 8 miles from an 
airport (KAMN)
>> And towers under 200 but close to an airport and in the glide slope of a
>> runway need to be painted/lit as well....
>>
Not as long as they do not exceed the height gradient.  IF they are high 
enough to require lighting and in the glide path, they will likely be 
ordered removed as they would be in an area requiring both registration 
and permission. I believe I've mentioned this before, but maybe on tower 
talk. I fly an *old* as in 52 year old Beechcraft. It now has a 3 blade 
prop with blades notably shorter than the blades on the original 2 blade 
prop.  Much quieter too. The original 2 blade prop made more noise than 
that large displacement engine at full throttle as the prop tips would 
go supersonic at take off RPM. Some years back I found myself on final 
for 36 over a new, upper class subdivision. That was being built so 
close to the end of the runway the tops had to be cut out of the trees. 
Remember I'm flying a plane that weighs over a ton and a half with a big 
engine.   As I approached the airport something didn't look quite right, 
but with all the construction I was looking forward and down at an angle 
with a lot of back ground clutter from the construction.  I became aware 
of the problem rather abruptly, recognizing a TV antenna tower directly 
ahead of me, "with a guy installing an antenna on top of it".  With the 
3 degree slope to the approach path, I was already below the top of the 
tower and although small compared to a 737, the Deb isn't exactly tiny.  
I went full power, pulled hard while avoiding a stall and rolled a bit 
to the right to clear the tower with the left wing.  I can only 
guesstimate, but the wing probably passed no more than 3 to 5 feet over 
the guys head with the left main about the same distance to the East of 
him (o maybe a tad closer). He was probably able to slide down the tower.

I have to admit that suddenly finding a tower sticking up in front of me 
was a bit hard on the nerves, but all seat cushions were accounted for. 
(IE didn't lose any). To top it off the house was owned by a city 
councilman. Instant enemy.  I don't know if he hated airplanes and 
pilots before that or not, but he certainly did afterword and was quite 
vocal about it. As the Deb has *large* N numbers on the side, the 
airport was getting calls about me even when I wasn't flying.<:-))

He was upset because the airport prevented him putting up the TV antenna 
and more than likely the threat of being prosecuted for a federal crime 
if he didn't take the tower down.  (I wish I could have heard the 
conversation when he called to complain about me almost hitting the 
tower and scaring the crap out of the climber. You put up a tower 
...WHERE?), but imagine any one trying to put up a tribander in his 
subdivision were it not for the airport.  Actually there is one 
tribander at 60 feet, almost that close to the airport, but it is well 
below the tops of the trees and not in line with a runway.

Being a pilot and a ham who loves airplanes,  there is no way I would 
ever build off the end of a runway ...at least not that close. I am 
currently centered on the GPS approach, but far enough out height is not 
a problem, nor do I consider some one not quite making the runway to be 
a problem for my location.

There are two areas of height that are of concern other than the 
gradient in line with the runways.  One is the protected area around the 
airport, usually on the order of 5 miles or so.This circle is often cut 
into quadrants with each quadrant having an altitude listed. This is the 
Minimum safe altitude taking into account the required safe clearance.  
There may be and often are lighted towers within this circle. The height 
of the highest object plus required clearance in each quadrant 
determines the the altitude listed in that block.  The second is the 
gradient within this area, other than with in line with the runways. It 
is much steeper than the one that lines up with the runways. So you can 
go to 60 feet just a few blocks away, particularly if it doesn't stick 
above the trees.

73

Roger (K8RI)
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: sixclub-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:sixclub-
>>> bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Mike Pappas
>>> Sent: Monday, October 25, 2010 8:10 PM
>>> To: World Wide Six Meter Club
>>> Subject: Re: [SixClub] Now here's a tower and rotator (UPDATED)
>>>
>>> Under 200 foot and you don't need lighting per FAA.
>>>
>>> So it could be 199 foot 11and 15/16 inches and you would be OK.  However
>>> you could have significant civil liability in the event of aircraft
>> incident...
>>>
>>> Mike Pappas
>>> W9CN
>>> advanceddigital at mac.com
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Oct 25, 2010, at 7:04 PM, Howard Bingham wrote:
>>>
>>>> Wouldn't a tower that high require flashing light per FAA..?
>>>>
>>>> Sure wouldn't want to have to climb that tower.. ;-)
>>>>
>>>> 73
>>>>
>>>> Howard
>>>> KE5APJ
>>>>
>>>> -------
>>>> On 10/25/2010 7:06 PM, Roger (K8RI) wrote:
>>>>> BTW there's a 7L 6-meter Yagi some where among all those antennas.
>>>>>
>>>>> 73
>>>>>
>>>>> Roger (K8RI)
>>>>>
>>>>> On 10/25/2010 7:53 PM, Roger (K8RI) wrote:
>>>>>> Now with photos of the complete tower and antennas. Courtesy of
>>> photos
>>>>>> from Joe (W8DCQ)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 73
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Roger (K8RI)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 10/24/2010 10:17 PM, Roger (K8RI) wrote:
>>>>>>> On 10/24/2010 9:56 PM, doc at kd4e.com wrote:
>>>>>>>> I seem to recall from psych classes that Freud has something
>>>>>>>> to say about that ...  ;-)
>>>>>>> Freud, like many of the "old masters" was a dirty old man.<:-))
>>>>>>> OTOH things I studied in grade school they now feel the need to
>>> protect
>>>>>>> high school students from.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> 73
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Roger (K8RI)
>>>>>>>> Just kidding!
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Now this is not quite the average tower and rotator.
>>>>>>>>> http://www.rogerhalstead.com/ham_files/skyhook.htm
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> 73
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Roger (K8RI)
>>> __________________________________________________________
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