Pace I agree with all you say. I first experienced high intensity strobe lighting when flying into Alconbury many moons ago. The approach had a "running rabbit" which penetrated the murk much better than anything I'd seen before. (The RAF then had centre line and 5 bar lighting with PAPI's / VASI's which were nowhere near as good as the USAF approach lighting.)
High intensity strobes are now common on aircraft for anti-collision purposes but ground obstructions, both permanent and temporary, are still lit only by steady (and low intensity) red lights. That may be okay in a dark countryside but in a built-up area with lots of light pollution something more is needed so that obstacles like this crane really stand out. I know that this would only add to the light pollution but I see no other alternative.
Last edited by Madbob; 18th Jan 2013 at 08:42.