Have you ever come across power lines with some colorful ball-like objects and wondered why they are there?
Well, those are not just ordinary balls as they serve a very important purpose in aviation. They are referred to as visibility marker balls or Aerial Markers, Bird Diverters, or Aviary Balls, and are used as markers for visibility for low-flying planes.
The marker balls are placed by the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) and are always in a bold color like yellow, orange, red, or white.
They are mostly placed on power lines that are near mountain passes, dense forest,s or fields in the distance that can make the lines difficult to see.
”Power line aerial markers are installed on distribution and transmission lines to enhance awareness of their presence as well as warn aircraft pilots during day and night.’’ Says KPLC.
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The balls are also strategically fixed on power lines on major highways, near airports, and all locations where aircraft fly at low altitudes.
The bright colors help in improving the power line’s visibility so that low-flying aircraft can avoid them.
According to various media reports, marker balls on power lines were first introduced in the 1950s in the US by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after increased cases of collisions between airplanes and power lines.
Initially, they were made of glass but power companies later changed them to plastic to make them last long.
To ensure exceptional color stability over their life, KPLC notes that a UV-stabilized material with a UV-resistant coating is used in making them. They normally have drain holes to prevent rain from accumulating in them.
