Strobe light causes distraction during ILS approach.

Attributes
ACN	299180
Time
Date	199503
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : lax
State Reference	CA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : lax
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 300 flight time total : 11500 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	299180
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
Navigational Aid	Unspecified

Narrative:

I believe there is a hazard to navigation located in the northeast corner of hollywood park race track. There is a bright strobe light operating there. During marginal VFR/IFR operations to lax, this strobe light looks like a REIL or SFL approach light. It is also visible immediately after breaking out of the clouds and prior to seeing the airport or runway environment. When seeing this light, my immediate thought is that it is part of the approach light system, and to turn the aircraft towards it (which is low and slightly left). In good VFR the airport is clearly visible so it is not a problem, and in CAT I, ii, or III conditions, we fly past it in the clouds and never see the light, so it is no problem there either. It is a problem when visibility and ceiling are such that we break out in the vicinity of east of hollywood park and cannot see the airport. I believe this light should be removed because it tends to lure the flight crew left and below the ILS. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: lax tower supervisor stated the strobe the reporter is referring to is the gunter strobe. The strobe is located on the top of the forum next to hollywood park. Strobe is used for navigation during VFR conditions.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: STROBE LIGHT CAUSES DISTR DURING ILS APCH.

Narrative: I BELIEVE THERE IS A HAZARD TO NAV LOCATED IN THE NE CORNER OF HOLLYWOOD PARK RACE TRACK. THERE IS A BRIGHT STROBE LIGHT OPERATING THERE. DURING MARGINAL VFR/IFR OPS TO LAX, THIS STROBE LIGHT LOOKS LIKE A REIL OR SFL APCH LIGHT. IT IS ALSO VISIBLE IMMEDIATELY AFTER BREAKING OUT OF THE CLOUDS AND PRIOR TO SEEING THE ARPT OR RWY ENVIRONMENT. WHEN SEEING THIS LIGHT, MY IMMEDIATE THOUGHT IS THAT IT IS PART OF THE APCH LIGHT SYS, AND TO TURN THE ACFT TOWARDS IT (WHICH IS LOW AND SLIGHTLY L). IN GOOD VFR THE ARPT IS CLRLY VISIBLE SO IT IS NOT A PROB, AND IN CAT I, II, OR III CONDITIONS, WE FLY PAST IT IN THE CLOUDS AND NEVER SEE THE LIGHT, SO IT IS NO PROB THERE EITHER. IT IS A PROB WHEN VISIBILITY AND CEILING ARE SUCH THAT WE BREAK OUT IN THE VICINITY OF E OF HOLLYWOOD PARK AND CANNOT SEE THE ARPT. I BELIEVE THIS LIGHT SHOULD BE REMOVED BECAUSE IT TENDS TO LURE THE FLC L AND BELOW THE ILS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: LAX TWR SUPVR STATED THE STROBE THE RPTR IS REFERRING TO IS THE GUNTER STROBE. THE STROBE IS LOCATED ON THE TOP OF THE FORUM NEXT TO HOLLYWOOD PARK. STROBE IS USED FOR NAV DURING VFR CONDITIONS.

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.