What action should be taken if a flashing beacon tower light fails for more than 30 minutes?

If a flashing beacon tower light fails for more than 30 minutes, the appropriate action is to notify the FAA and log the incident. This is crucial because beacon tower lights are vital for aviation safety, helping aircraft to identify the presence of obstacles.

Timely reporting of such failures is mandated by FAA regulations, emphasizing the importance of maintaining operational safety standards. Notifying the FAA allows them to be aware of the situation and potentially take action to mitigate risks to air traffic. Logging the incident creates a record that can be referred to later for maintenance tracking and regulatory compliance, ensuring that there is a formal acknowledgment of the failure and the steps taken to address it.

In contrast, simply making a note for future reference does not actively address the issue or inform the authorities who need to be aware of the potential hazard. Replacing the bulb immediately might not be the best first step without proper notification and could lead to potential risks if the failure was due to other underlying issues. Ignoring the failure if it falls under a certain threshold undermines safety protocols and can lead to serious consequences if not handled properly. Thus, notifying the FAA is the correct and responsible action in this scenario.