Instructor pilot report re lack of visibility of rotating beacon.

Attributes
ACN	263219
Time
Date	199402
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : trm
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : instrument
ASRS Report	263219
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : student
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Airport
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
Airport	other physical facility

Narrative:

While working with students on their night flying training, I try to explain all the lights and their meaning. However, when we are approaching trm from the south, we are unable to see the rotating beacon to indicate the landing field. I was unable to explain this until I discovered that they have the rotating beacon on the roof of the hangar. In a very close proximity to this bacon they also have a very powerful flood light illuminating the ramp. When approaching the airport from the south, the flood light blocks out the beacon. The original bacon tower is still there. I feel that the rotating beacon should be returned to the tower, or the flood light be removed and placed at a different location that would not interfere with the rotating beacon. I am sure you are aware that it is very embarrassing for a flight instructor not being able to prove in the air what he has taught the student in the classroom.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ISTR PLT RPT RE LACK OF VISIBILITY OF ROTATING BEACON.

Narrative: WHILE WORKING WITH STUDENTS ON THEIR NIGHT FLYING TRAINING, I TRY TO EXPLAIN ALL THE LIGHTS AND THEIR MEANING. HOWEVER, WHEN WE ARE APCHING TRM FROM THE S, WE ARE UNABLE TO SEE THE ROTATING BEACON TO INDICATE THE LNDG FIELD. I WAS UNABLE TO EXPLAIN THIS UNTIL I DISCOVERED THAT THEY HAVE THE ROTATING BEACON ON THE ROOF OF THE HANGAR. IN A VERY CLOSE PROX TO THIS BACON THEY ALSO HAVE A VERY POWERFUL FLOOD LIGHT ILLUMINATING THE RAMP. WHEN APCHING THE ARPT FROM THE S, THE FLOOD LIGHT BLOCKS OUT THE BEACON. THE ORIGINAL BACON TWR IS STILL THERE. I FEEL THAT THE ROTATING BEACON SHOULD BE RETURNED TO THE TWR, OR THE FLOOD LIGHT BE REMOVED AND PLACED AT A DIFFERENT LOCATION THAT WOULD NOT INTERFERE WITH THE ROTATING BEACON. I AM SURE YOU ARE AWARE THAT IT IS VERY EMBARRASSING FOR A FLT INSTRUCTOR NOT BEING ABLE TO PROVE IN THE AIR WHAT HE HAS TAUGHT THE STUDENT IN THE CLASSROOM.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.