When a tower light outage is observed, how soon must the FAA be notified of the outage?

The requirement to notify the FAA of a tower light outage within 30 minutes stems from regulations designed to ensure aviation safety. Tower lights are critical for the visibility of structures that could pose a hazard to aircraft, especially during nighttime or low-visibility conditions. An outage can create a significant safety risk, and prompt notification allows the FAA to take necessary actions to mitigate that risk, such as alerting pilots or coordinating repairs.

By requiring notification within this short time frame, the regulations aim to maintain high safety standards in aviation and ensure that air traffic is aware of potential obstacles. This requirement reflects the FAA's focus on rapid communication and response to anything that might affect air navigation safety.