What is the purpose of Obstruction Lights?

Obstruction lights serve a critical role in aviation safety by warning pilots about potential hazards, particularly tall structures like buildings, towers, and other obstacles in the vicinity of flight paths. These lights help to ensure that pilots are aware of these obstructions, especially during low visibility conditions, such as at night or in bad weather. The presence of these lights is essential to prevent accidental collisions, thereby contributing significantly to flight safety.

While guidance for taxiing and enhancing runway visibility are important aspects of aviation safety, they are not the primary function of obstruction lights. Similarly, signaling aircraft for takeoff is related to ground operations but does not pertain to the specific purpose of obstruction lights. Thus, the main objective of these lights is to alert pilots to the presence of obstacles, ensuring safer navigation in the airspace.