After two years of exposing to the maritime community the potential benefits of applying the still rarely used fixed and flashing (FFI) rhythmic character to aids to navigation lights, Cybernetica AS is pleased to report the conversion of the first major lighthouse on the Baltic Sea to the use of a new generation of LED lanterns supporting FFI character by the Estonian Maritime Administration. In December 2013 a successful visibility test involving professional mariners was conducted on the Sorve lighthouse with a I5M nominal range fitted with an omnidirectional LED light. This was a E8277.W type light, developed and supplied by Cybernetica, with both the fixed and flashing light signal components provided by a single physical lantern furnished with external FFI adapters, which were inserted into the regular flasher signal path of the dual lantern. The lighthouse, emitting a white fixed and flashing navigational light signal, was observed from several distances up to 10 nautical miles at several fixed luminous intensity levels. There was unanimous agreement that the situational awareness of a navigator was much improved by the use of FFI and Sorve lighthouse shall be changed to permanent operation using an FFI rhythmic character since March 01,2014. Another set of tests will be performed in February on leading lines in order to establish the effect and optimum parameters of the implementation of an FFI character.The outcome will be reported in a technical article to be published in a future issue of the IALA Bulletin.
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