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House backs bill requiring markings on meteorological towers to protect low-flying aircraft
Summary
The House passed first substitute HB53, which requires marking and lighting of meteorological evaluation towers between 50 and 200 feet in rural areas to reduce risks to low-flying small aircraft; sponsor said marking costs about $6,000 and the measure passed unanimously 71–0.
A committee-sponsored measure to improve aviation safety won near-unanimous support in the Utah House. Representative Chris Janssen, presenting first substitute House Bill 53, said the Department of Transportation raised concerns about small aircraft colliding with unmarked meteorological evaluation towers used to measure wind for potential wind farms.
The bill requires towers taller than 50 feet but shorter than 200 feet, located in rural or undeveloped areas, to be marked with alternating orange and white paint, fitted with a light at the top (solar allowed), and fitted with spherical markers on outer guy wires and sleeves at the bottom of outside guy wires. Telecommunication towers are exempt because they are already tracked by the Federal Aviation Administration.
During floor discussion, representatives asked about tower heights, portability and costs. The sponsor said tower heights vary and the bill applies only to towers at least 50 but less than 200 feet. He said marking costs would be borne by the tower owner and estimated marking at "about $6,000 per tower" while the towers themselves cost roughly "$50,000 to $70,000." On the question of accidents, the sponsor said Utah has not recorded such incidents but cited roughly "10 to 15 deaths" nationwide tied to similar structures.
Supporters described the measure as a modest safety step: the sponsor said the marking cost is "negligible" compared with overall tower costs and that some installing organizations already mark their towers. The House passed the substitute 71–0; the bill will be transmitted to the Senate.
The debate focused on preventing rare but potentially fatal collisions involving low-flying small aircraft; the bill assigns marking costs to tower owners and exempts towers already regulated and charted by the FAA.
