The casino light beam that's so bright it has its own ecosystem (and pilots use it to navigate)
Mia Horton The sophisticated technology at the centre of modern aviation means planes basically fly themselves. And even when pilots are called upon to navigate, it’s mostly done by studying instruments and reading data.
But when the cockpit’s inhabitants are called upon to look out of their window, there exists a system that helps pilots to find their way from A to B using what are called "waypoints".
While most waypoints can be GPS markers, some are real, actual geographical landmarks – like Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh.
What is the most peculiar waypoint?
Information on the world’s waypoints seems hard to come by unless you are actually plotting a flight route but one stand-out marker designated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the governing body for American skies, is not actually a physical entity.
It is the Luxor Sky Beam, a 42.3 billion candela tunnel of light - the strongest in the world - that shines exactly vertical from the 39 xenon lamps on top of the Luxor Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. On a clear night, the Sky Beam, which has shone continuously into the Nevada sky since 1993, is visible from 275 miles away by aircraft at cruising altitude, such as over Los Angeles, a five-hour drive away.
The beam’s 39 lamps are each 7,000 watt and cost $51 (£40) an hour to run.
In addition to being a navigational point for pilots (think: turn left before the Luxur Sky Beam), it also boasts its own ecosystem, attracting moths, which attracts bats, which attracts owls.
Another waypoint of note is the tower at the Carowinds Amusement Park near Charlotte Airport, North Carolina. It was this landmark that led in part to the crash of Eastern Air Lines Flight 212 in 1974, after the pilots distracted themselves trying to spot it.
The subsequent crash, when the plane fell short of the runway, led to the introduction of the Sterile Cockpit Rule, which states that while an aircraft is below 10,000 feet, on an approach or ascent, pilots must only engage in conversation regarding the flight. "Flight crew members should avoid non-essential conversations, should not make non-safety related announcements towards the passengers," it states.
Does the UK have any famous waypoints?
It really does. We weren’t able to find a database of global waypoints, but thehangar.co.uk has one for the UK, with hundreds of different sorts of landmarks from airfields to service stations. Here are some that stood out…
- Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh
- J26 on the M6
- Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool
- Broughty Castle, Dundee
- Flat Holm Lighthouse, Cardiff
- Forth Road Bridge, Edinburgh
- J14 on the M4
- Morpeth Railway Station
- Severn Bridge, Wales
- Whitstable Harbour, Kent
Are you an aviation enthusiast who knows an interesting waypoint? Post in the comments below or get in touch at
