Originally Posted by Kestas
I haven't seen spot lights in the sky for the last 20 years or so. I wondered what happened to them.
I think the FAA may have had something to say about it. Especially around large cities and metropolitan areas. I know that is something pilots would not be too happy to get hit with on final approach. Or any other time for that matter.
I believe when the Luxor in Las Vegas wanted to go with their large spotlight on the tip of their pyramid hotel, they had to get special permission from the FAA before they were allowed to proceed. This was due to it being located so close to McCarran International Airport in downtown Las Vegas. Pilots as far away as Los Angeles have reported seeing it on clear nights.
I'm sure other cities like Los Angeles, that have many commercial airports in a relatively confined airspace, have rules regarding these things shining everywhere in the night sky. Air traffic today is much greater, and far more congested than it was back in the 50's and early 60's, when these things were everywhere.