While The Lighthouse Directory suggests that the Gibraltar Aerobeacon does not strictly meet its criteria for a lighthouse,[1] the publishers of the directory indicate that the light merits an exception.[2] In Publication 113, it is referred to as the Gibraltar Aviation Light;[3] in The Online List of Lights, it is referred to as the Gibraltar Aero Light.[4] The light by all three names has the same Admiralty number(see infobox).[2][3][4]
The Gibraltar Aerobeacon (pictured in link below) is positioned on top of the Rock of Gibraltar.[2][4] The Rock is approximately 22 miles (35 km) in length. About six furlongs (0.75 miles (1.21 km)) to the south of the north end of the Rock is the signal station at 1,255 feet (383 m). The 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica indicated that, at the station, "the names and messages of passing ships are cabled to all parts of the world."[5] The map of Gibraltar reveals Signal Hill close to the end of the cable car line, at 387 metres (1,270 ft).[6]
The Gibraltar Aerobeacon is a square, skeletal tower which features a large gallery platform on which there is a round radar apparatus.[2] The light characteristic is remarkable for a red light which flashes the Morse Code for Gibraltar.[2][3] It consists of two long flashes and a short flash, after which there is a long flash and three short flashes.[2] The code for Gibraltar is emitted every ten seconds. The range is 30 nautical miles (55 kilometres or 34.5 miles). The active beacon has a focal plane (or focal height) of 405 metres (1329 feet).[2][3]
